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The umpires appointed were Mr. Aaron Walker and Mr. Samuel Moss, both of whom agreed that the peal was satisfactorily given throughout.

This peal was widely reported in contemporary newspapers and I'm grateful to John Eisel for providing the following account from the Manchester Times, 22nd April 1843.

EXTRAORDINARY CHANGE RINGING — On Easter Monday, six of the change-ringers of Ashton, assisted by four of St. John’s, Manchester, ascended the tower of the Parish Church of this borough [Ashton], and rung a true and compete peal of Grandsire Caters, consisting of 10,259 changes, which they rung in the short time of six hours and ten minutes, being the longest peal in that method ever rung in the county of Lancaster. The peal was composed and conducted by Mr. James Wood. So great was the anxiety manifested by the inhabitants generally, that an immense number of them assembled at the conclusion of the peal, and greeted the ringers with well-deserved plaudits on the successful accomplishment of their Herculean task. Nothing could have exceeded the precision and accuracy of the striking during the performance of the above. The ringers were stationed as follows,—John Hobson, Joseph Burgess, James Wood, Charles Wood (of St. John’s), Robert Howe (St. John’s), Samuel Ferrand, Joseph Winterbottom (St. John’s), William Royal (St. John’s), George Burgess, Bryan Vernon. The weight of the tenor bell was 28 cwt. The feat was accomplished much sooner than was expected, many believing that it was an utter impossibility to do it.

On the same day the hand-bell ringers from the Horse and Jockey, in this borough, attended a ringing match at Rochdale, and won the first prize—consisting of a large silver cup and one sovereign. These ringers have been much celebrated for their extraordinary performances on various occasions.