In bell ringing, a ‘peal’ is a period of ringing, usually lasting around three hours and with over 5000 changes – all rung from memory of the method ‘blue line’. They are often rung for special occasions and commemorated with boards in towers.

Tenor 12 cwt

On Saturday 2 January, 1858, in 3 hours and 20 minutes

A Peal of 5760 MINOR (8 Methods)

8 methods:- The peals were rung as follows with 720 changes each:- Duke of York, Yorkshire Delight, Kent Treble Bob, Merchant’s Return, New London Pleasure, Oxford Treble Bob, Violet and Grandsire Bob

Ringers

1. James Schofield
2. Jerry Turner
3. Cornelius Holden
4. Samuel Brierley
5. Ammon Schofield
6. Thomas Whitehead

Conducted not stated

Notes From Huddersfield Chronicle 9/1/1858 (page 5)
Change Ringing – On Saturday 2nd instant, the junior company of ringers of St Chad’s, Saddleworth, rung a true peal 5,760 changes in three hours and 20 minutes. The peal consists of eight different peals, each containing 720 changes. The peals were rung as follows:- Duke of York, Yorkshire Delight, Kent Treble Bob, Merchant’s Return, New London Pleasure, Oxford Treble Bob, Violet and Grandsire Bob. The ringers were stationed as follows:- James Scholfield Treble; Jerry Turner, 2nd; Cornelius Holden, 3rd; Samuel Brierley, 4th; Ammon Scholfield, 5th Thomas Whitehead, 6th The ringing, taking it altogether, was considered excellent. After the ringers had concluded the peal, they went to the Church Inn, kept by Mrs Andrew, and partook of an excellent dinner of prime roast beef and plum pudding &c. In the evening they rung several peals on the hand bells, and spent the evening very pleasantly with their neighbours and friends.