The Gatehouse bell tower stands on higher ground than the Cathedral Tower, so the Royal Ring of 10 Bells are located, in the Gatehouse Tower, instead of the Central tower of the Cathedral.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia.
"The ring of bells was cast by Whitechapel Bell Foundry of London, and presented as a gift by the American Friends of St David's Cathedral. The substantial task of re-building the cloisters as an education centre and refectory began in 2003 and was completed in May 2007. The translation of Wyn Evans from Dean to Bishop led to the appointment of Jonathan Lean as Dean in 2009. His role at the Cathedral since 2001 has been to reshape the liturgy to one worthy of a Cathedral, and will continue in improving the life of the Cathedral whilst Dean.
The bells are not hung in the central tower of the cathedral but in the old gatehouse, Porth y Twr. There are 10 bells with the heaviest weighing 24cwt-3qr-25 lbs in D, the back eight bells were cast in 1928 by Mears & Stainbank, London and 2 trebles added in 2000 cast by Whitechapel Bell Foundry, London. Details of the bells:-
Bell Weight Note Diameter Cast Founder
1 5-1-3 F# 2000 Whitechapel Bell Foundry Ltd
2 5-1-23 E 2000 Whitechapel Bell Foundry Ltd
3 5-2-22 D 30.00" 1928 Mears & Stainbank
4 5-3-23 C# 31.00" 1928 Mears & Stainbank
5 7-0-13 B 33.00" 1928 Mears & Stainbank
6 8-2-3 A 35.75" 1928 Mears & Stainbank
7 10-3-13 G 39.00" 1928 Mears & Stainbank
8 11-2-23 F# 41.00" 1928 Mears & Stainbank
9 17-1-2 E 46.00" 1928 Mears & Stainbank
10 24-3-25 D 52.00" 1928 Mears & Stainbank" Text Source: (
visit link)
"To understand part of the reason St. Davids is so special, you have to know a little about the history of the area. St. David is the patron saint of Wales. Legend claims he was born around 500 A.D. on the rugged Pembrokeshire coast of southwest Wales. He was the founder of a strict monastic order in the town that bears his name, and was the most influential clergyman in all Wales during the "Age of Saints." His place of birth and the cathedral built in his name became one of the most important shrines of medieval Christendom - two pilgrimages to St. Davids equaling one to Rome. Important sites at St. Davids include the cathedral and ruined Bishop's Palace, along with St. Non's Church and Well. St. Non was St. David's mother.
St Davids is one of the great historic shrines of Christendom. Nowhere in Britain is there a more ancient cathedral settlement, for it reaches back fourteen centuries and survived the plunder of the Norsmen in the 'Dark Ages'. St David chose this wild, beautiful region as the site of his monastery in the 6th century and you will find his shrine in the purple-stoned cathedral, which nestles inconspicuously in a grassy hollow beneath the rooftops of the tiny city.
The large, cruciform cathedral, dating from 1176, is a treasury of fine things. The nave has a breath-taking beauty, embodying three centuries of craftsmanship which now make up a scene of medieval splendour. There are superb examples of the woodcarver's art in St David's - just gaze upwards at the decorative roof - and the choir stalls date from the late 15th century. Here, note the wit and zest of the medieval mericord carvings (carvings on the hinged seats in the choir stalls); they represent a trend away from the decorative severity of earlier times, and show that even in religion, humor had its part to play." Text Source: (
visit link)