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NEW Treasures Exhibition
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NEW Treasures Exhibition

Peter Bell & Dog Whippers

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These details supplement information provided in the cathedral on the stand Can you imagine the Peter Bell chiming out over Exeter?

Peter Bell

Dog Whippers

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Peter Bell

There is a long tradition of naming an Exeter Cathedral bell ‘Peter’, in honour of the cathedral’s patron saint. One is recorded in the 14th century, but the present Peter Bell in the north tower was re-cast in the late 17th century, to replace one given by Bishop Peter Courtenay in the 1480s. Its inscription states that Bishop Courtenay gave his bell in 1484 which appears incorrect as he had fled the country late in 1483 to join Henry Tudor in Brittany, after taking part in an uprising against King Richard III for which he was found guilty of treason and dismissed from his position as bishop.

Perhaps he had already committed funds for his great bell, and contracted the text in anticipation of its completion leaving a legacy out of sight. There is also a tradition that Llandaff and Exeter Cathedrals exchanged some bells when Jasper Tudor, Henry’s uncle, was building a new tower at Llandaff in 1485. The recast bell from Llandaff being the Peter Bell which Peter Courtenay gave to Exeter.

More certain is that in August 1485, Peter Courtenay returned to England with Henry Tudor. Following Henry’s victory over King Richard at the Battle of Bosworth, Peter was appointed keeper of the privy seal. He was also one of the two supporting bishops at Henry’s coronation. In November 1485, sentences were reversed by Henry VII’s first Parliament and Peter Courtenay was re-instated as Bishop of Exeter.

Photo by Peter Smith, Newbery Smith Photography

The great bell given by Bishop Peter Courtenay became cracked on 5 November 1611 while being swung vigorously during the annual thanksgiving for the deliverance of Parliament from the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. A writer in 1807 explained that it was ‘rung by the great exertions of twenty-four men’. After it was eventually recast in 1676, it was re-hung within a frame so that its great weight would no longer be swung – it is held fixed and was struck by a large hammer.

Until 2020, the large hammer was controlled by the Astronomical Clock mechanism to strike the hours. Following an inspection, it was considered that the use of the hammer was weakening the bell, so a lighter hammer was installed whose hourly operation is radio controlled. It is no longer connected to the clock mechanism.

The Peter Bell can also be tolled. It was once used to ring curfew every evening and is specially tolled when an Earl of Devon dies.

The weight of the Peter Bell (approximately 4 tons) has been estimated from its size (74ins, 1880mm diameter) and the note it sounds (A flat). It is the largest bell of its age.

Dog Whippers

Dog whippers were employed at Exeter Cathedral for more than 200 years. There are frequent records of the provision of a coat with a silver badge for the dog whipper which was necessary as he worked outside in all weathers rounding up unruly hounds. In the 18th century, the cathedral’s dog whippers lived in St Catherine’s Almshouses, just outside the Cathedral Close.

It was acceptable for some worshippers (generally genteel ladies) to bring well-behaved dogs with them to services. However, the dog whipper was on duty to intervene if dogs caused a disturbance and to eject any strays attempting to enter the building.

The last official dog whipper at Exeter Cathedral was Charles Reynolds who was appointed in 1817 and provided with accommodation in Broadgate, the main entrance to the Cathedral Close. When Broadgate was demolished in 1825, Reynolds was awarded £5 annually in lieu of his chambers.

Reynolds died in 1856 and the appointment of his successor, Jonathan Pickard, as a dog whipper was announced in the local newspaper. However, the newspaper had whipped up a story, as the minutes of Chapter meetings record that Pickard was appointed to carry out the duties of a virger. There was no mention of work involving dogs and the post was designated that of a third verger.

Perhaps it was an honorary accolade, for even today one of the cathedral virgers holds the honorary title of dog whipper and in services carries a staff known as the dog whipper’s virge. Beware unruly stray visitors!

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