The Squire Fortrey (King's Norton/Norton by Galby) offered the Leicester Scholars
a prize if they could complete a long peal which they did in 1777, ringing
10,080 of Grandsire Caters. The following year on 3rd March the Sherwood Youths rang a
10,260 of Grandsire Caters at Nottingham St Mary (Peal 20) and the
Squire Fortrey generously gave both companies a set of "cup" handbells. The bells
given to the Sherwood Youths now hang in the ringing chamber at Nottingham St Mary's.
(see
Croft's Handbells)
It was also a notable feat for the 9th to be rung single-handed for such a
length of time, a testament to the prowess of WD Crofts. The Leicester ringers scored their record breaking
10,080 changes after ringing nearly 5000 changes on the morning (as cited on their peal board)