Grandsire Maximus at Coventry Cathedral, W Mids

A couple of excerpts from the opening course of a quarter peal on this fine 12. A very reasonable effort for a mixed band, although Grandsire does tend to flow nicely (on all numbers!).
Coventry Cathedral is best known as a victim of World War II bombing in 1940, destroying almost all the building except the tower. A new Cathedral was built at right angles to the destroyed building, running North to South (instead of East-West!). Before it became a Cathedral in 1918, the “old” St Michael was one of the largest parish churches, and must have been quite a sight in its day. Even now, the spire rises to 295 feet, and can be seen for some distance.
The history of the bells is long and interesting. Shorthand, the current bells, cast by Gillett & Johnston of Croydon in 1927, replace an old ring of 10; these bells were cast by Pack & Chapman in 1774, albeit a few were subsequently recast themselves. These bells in turn had replaced an older eight, which themselves replaced an older six before them!
The current fourteen bells (12 + 6flat, and a sharp 9th) were originally hung for chiming - a proposed detached campanile was never built. Miraculously, the bells survived the Coventry Blitz, and were hung for ringing in 1987 by Taylors. A new ringing room was built, a few steps up the tower, and a large glass window allows the ringing to be viewed by those wandering round the Cathedral ruins! The bells handle extremely well and sound magnificent, albeit slightly too quiet for my liking.
Thanks to Tim, Josh and Aaron for allowing me to rip off their photos - numpty here didn’t take any (apart from the opening shot)! :P A fuller history of the bells can be found on Mike Chester’s excellent website below:
warksbells.co.u...
Tenor 33-3-6 in Dflat

[@shanesquire1]

Hi Simon the Bells sounds very nice .

[@simonbellringer]

Oh yes, they are a super ring! :-)

[@fredmills368]

Gorgeous Gillett bells luckily they weren't destroyed in the bombing.

[@simonbellringer]

Indeed, it would have been a shame to lose these - can you name me the other famous Gillett 12 that *were* lost in the War?

[@fredmills368]

Was it bow?

[@simonbellringer]

@@fredmills368 yep, certainly was! Wouls have loved to have rung those (mind, the current 12 aren't half bad either!)

[@irkibby]

The bombs that destroyed the cathedral were fire bombs. They landed on the roof of the main building and set the medieval wooden roof slight. Unfortunately the heat twisted later metal reinforcements of the roof, which then brought the aisle walls and arcades crashing down

[@ΝΙΚΟΣΠΟΔΑΣ-π4φ]

@@simonbellringer to me they are C#

[@Steven_Rowe]

Simon
Thanks
A sensation gillett peal

[@simonbellringer]

Pleasure, glad you still enjoy my videos :-)

[@SantaRudolph-ef6lv]

So am I right saying there is grandsire cinques and maximus.

[@simonbellringer]

Correct - in the same way there is a Plain Bob Cinques and a Plain Bob Maximus, there is a Grandsire Cinques and a Grandsire Maximus. Same method, just on a different stage (viz: the tenor rings the method instead of bonging behind...)

[@SantaRudolph-ef6lv]

@@simonbellringer is there a stedman maximus.