Bells
The Cathedral has a ring of twelve bells.
1978 Rehanging
Gloucester's ten bells were rehung in a new iroko frame and augmented to twelve in 1978. The carillion was renewed with its four 18th century and two 10th century tunes, and also 'Easter Song'.
The work was supported by charitable trusts, ringers, and friends of Gloucester Cathedral, from the British Isles and overseas.
Great Peter
Great Peter
Great Peter is England’s only remaining medieval Bourdon or ‘great bell’. Its diameter is sixty-eight and a half inches (174cm) and it weighs 59 cwt 3qr 14lb.
The inscription on the bell reads
ME FECIT FIERI CONVENTUS NOMINE PETRI.
The convent had me cast in the name of Peter
Between each word is a shield bearing the coat of arms of Gloucester Abbey, and in several places are the marks of an unidentified bell founder.
Great Peter was re-hung to swing in 1978.
Great Peter had to cease ringing for services in 1999: the bolts connecting the bell to the headstock had severed. Luckily the discovery was made before the whole bell fell from its headstock. The bell had been resting on supports. The problem lay in the fact that the mechanism was too strong and sudden for the mass and weight of the bell: the bolts had taken the strain long enough and snapped.
A mechanism that copied the gradual start which happens when rung by hand, was needed. The great bells in Germany have such mechanisms and research and advice has taken place.
Now at long last Great Peter is ringing out again.