St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh (C.o.I.)

The earliest references to bells in Armagh were in relation to the fire in the city in 1065

which destroyed "all its churches, bells, -".There was a similar calamity in 1074, and again

in 1091. Then, during the Primacy of Christopher Han Hampton in 1913, the steeple was

rebuilt and the great bell recast. Bishop Thomas Lindsay translated from the Raphoe

Diocese to the See of Armagh is 1713 and was enthroned as Archbishop in the Cathedral of St Patrick's on February 13, 1714. At his own cost he purchased for the Cathedral a ring of six bells, which were made by Abraham Rudhall of Gloucester. The bells were described "as melodious as any in the Empire". The Primate at his own expense also sent for artificers from England to make a proper frame and wheels for hanging the bells: he paid for the materials as well as for the workmanship. The bells were cast in Gloucester in the year 1721 and were brought t Armagh in the same year. This story is told about their arrival in the city, which was expected daily. On one particular day a public hanging was to take place and while preparations were being made for the execution, huge crowds had gathered to witness the event. Word went around that the bells were on their way into Armagh from Dublin, whereupon the whole crowd set off to meet the bells and left the unfortunate criminal to die unwitnessed by the people of the city.

The six bells were augmented to a ring of eight in 1842 at the expense of the Lord Archbishop J.G.Beresford. The two new Treble bells were cast by Thomas Mears of London, which firm had absorbed the Rudhall Foundry just over a decade previously. Several attempts were made to establish teams of bellringers, but there always seemed to be difficulties in keeping the ringers together, and information about the ringing of bells by teams of bell-ringers is scanty. However, there is some evidence about ringers which appeared in the Saunders Newsletter in connection with two deaths of ringers in 1750.

From "Saunders Newsletter, 28 July 1814" -

"Obituary 14th inst. at the age of 86 years, Mr Samuel May of Newry, Co Down, Merchant.

It is remarkable that about the year 1750, this gentleman and five of his acquaintances, then in the prime of

youth, were in the habit of amusing themselves by ringing at stated times, peals on the bells of the Cathedral

Church of Armagh (in which parish his uncle was officiating Clergyman). Three persons out of six were alive last Thursday morning, viz. Samuel May; John Bames, Esq., of London and Mr John Richardson of Armagh. It rarely occurs that out of a given number of adults, one half is to be found after a period of 64 years."

"Saunders Newsletter, 13 January 1815":

"Mr John Richardson of Armagh died aged 85 years. Pleasant, facetious, social and honest, he was one of six young men ringing peals in Armagh Cathedral in 1750; till three months ago Mr Samuel May of Newry was alive and they are survived by Mr John Bames, Esq of London, father of General Barnes.

All bells except the Tenor have canons. The front seven hang in cast-iron A-frames which are supported on timber beams. The Tenor bell is hung for full-circle ringing. The Ellacombe chiming apparatus is operated from a clavier in the room below the bells, from where one person can chime them, either by playing tunes or changes. The ringing room is located immediately over the Crossing in the Nave. The bells are inscribed, and their diameter sizes and weights (cwts. qrs. lbs.) are recorded, as follows.