Grid Reference:-
140/312702
Postcode:
CV8 2LE
Bell Audio:-
Hear the bells
Guild Affiliation:-
Coventry DG
Peals Rung Here:-
None
No Regular Ringing
History Of The Bells
South-West of Kenilworth, just off the B4115 near the entrance to Stoneleigh Abbey, until recently these bells had not been rung regularly for some time. The 17th century frame includes some of the timber from an earlier medieval frame and is of a fairly common layout, with an empty central "pit". The frame with is considered to be historically important. The fittings are mostly contemporary with the bells, though the wheels are later. The tenor has had its canons removed, the others retain theirs. None of the bells have been turned.
There had long been a belief that the bells are unringable. However, recent minor work has meant that these bells are once again ringable and go reasonably well. They remain a little "fragile" and should be rung for only short periods and "with care"
There is a separate clock bell hung on the roof of the tower, Warners 1867, 16" in diameter and weighing around 1cwt, as an estimate.
Follow the road, a dead end getting ever narrower, through the village and the church is at the end, with a small amount of parking by the village club.
From John Greenhough:
In 1793, Briant of Hertford provided the present ring of four which has a tenor of 6 cwt. While the headstocks and bearings
are original, the other fittings appear to have been renewed. Parts of the frame are medieval and the tower dates from
the fourteenth century; it is possible that the previous bells are those now struck by the clock in the gatehouse of
Stoneleigh Abbey. A lack of interest due to the small number of bells coupled with pessimistic bellhangers' reports had
led to doubts over their safety, but only a few minor repairs were necessary to bring them back into order. After over
thirty years of silence, they were raised for Sunday service by ringers from Coventry and Stoneleigh.
They having rung for
several services and opened the Golden Jubilee party in 2002.
Details Of The Bells
1 John Briant, Hertford 1793 3cwt 24.00" 1341.5Hz (E+30c) 2 John Briant, Hertford 1793 3½cwt 24.25" 1236.0Hz (D#-12c) 3 John Briant, Hertford 1793 4cwt 28.25" 1130.5Hz (C#+34c) 4 John Briant, Hertford 1793 6cwt 31.00" 995.5Hz (B+14c)
Photo Gallery
Picture of the third bell. Note the old timber to the left and the spelling "Hartford" on the inscription |
The Treble |
The Clock Bell |