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 Friday 30 March, 1877, in 4 hours and 18 minutes

A Peal of 7200 TREBLE BOB MINOR (10 methods)

720 changes each; each peal different in name and in change, viz, Napoleon, Holmfirth Surprise, Daisy, Duke of York, Yorkshire Delight, Kent Treble Bob, Merchant’s Return, New London Pleasure, Oxford, and Violet.

Ringers

1. John J Brierley
2. John Holden
3. Franklin Brierley
4. John Wood
5. Edgar Buckley
6. Edward Wood

Conducted by Franklin Brierley

Notes CHANGE RINGING AT SADDLEWORTH CHURCH.—On Friday last six of the ringers at St. Chad’s Church, Saddleworth, ascended the tower and rung on the bells 7,200 changes, comprising 10 true and complete treble peals, consisting of 720 changes each; each peal different in name and in change, viz, Napoleon, Holmfirth Surprise, Daisy, Duke of York, Yorkshire Delight, Kent Treble Bob, Merchant’s Return, New London Pleasure, Oxford, and Violet, the whole being finally brought round in capital time and style in four hours and 18 minutes. The ringers took their respective stations as follows:—Treble, John J. Brierley; 2nd, John Holden; 3rd, Franklin Brierley; 4th, John Wood; 5th,Edgar Buckley; tenor, Edward Wood. Weight of tenor 12cwt. The peals were conducted by Franklin Brierley, and were listened to by a large number of ringers and friends, who considered it to be of the highest order; and considering the length, which is the greatest number of changes ever rung on the Saddleworth Church bells, they place it one of the first feats in six bell ringing [sic].
(Huddersfield Chronicle, Sat. 7 April 1877 page 8)