On Oak Apple Day, 29th May, in 1857, the city remembered the Restoration of the Monarchy but an Exeter custom that had lasted almost two hundred years was discontinued:
"the bells of the cathedral and those of several of the parish churches in the city, according to the annual custom, rang merry peals in commemoration of the Restoration. The ringing of the bell at the St. Katherine's Almhouse, Catherine-street, as was the practice on such occasion, and which was a source of annoyance to the residents in the neighbourhood, was discontinued. The bell had been rung by one of the junior choristers of the cathedral, and a sum of money - half of which went to the occupiers of the almshouse, and the other half to the ten junior choristers - was received from funds left for that purpose by the will (proved 1663) of Edward Young, D.D., Dean of Exeter. It was believed that the money was given only on the condition that the bell of the almshouse was rung, but this proved to be incorrect and the practice of ringing it has been discontinued. The will in question provides that 40s. a year be given to the almshouses and 40s a year to the choristers, on the day of the blessed restoration of his sacred Majesty."
I would bet it was some big-wig residents in the Cathedral Close who complained about the noise and thus spoiled the fun of one of the junior choristers for ever after. What's more I suspect some legal chicanery here. I would recommend that someone re-examine the good Dean Young's will but it is hardly worth the effort seeing that, in Catherine Street, there is no longer an almshouse bell worth ringing,
Source, The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 6th June 1857
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