Grid Reference:-
139/055903
Postcode:
B20 2RW
Bell Audio:-
None Available
Guild Affiliation:-
St Martin's Guild
Peals Rung Here:-
Felstead Database
Sunday Ringing:-
Not known
Practice Night:-
"Irregular"
History Of The Bells
This church is historically in Staffordshire, but was, alongside a number of other areas, "absorbed" into Birmingham in 1911. It therefore became part of Warwicskhire, though not administered from Warwick. It became part of the West Midlands in 1974, as did many other towers in Warwickshire.
The church dates from the twelfth century and the oldest parts of the present building date from around 1200. The building has been substantially enlarged and restored, in 1820, again with the addition of the Watt chapel in 1826 and during the church's restoration of 1876-8. The church is especially notable for the monuments and memorials to James Watt, Matthew Boulton and other leading figures of the industrial revolution.
There were "iiij belles" in 1553 and the number stayed the same until they were replaced by a ring of 6 cast by Joseph Smith of Edgbaston in 1701. In 1890 Barwells recast the treble and added two further trebles to complete the octave. They were rehung in a new wooden frame. By the time Taylors completely replaced the installation in 1955 the Barwell bells were still on their wooden headstocks, the others being on metal headstocks, possibly installed by J. E Groves, the local bellhanger, in the 1920s. The fourth had "a big chunk out of head" at this time. The back five had had their canons removed and been quarter turned.
This is a good ring, similar in nature to Warwick, St Nicholas, which were cast two years later and with a very similar tenor weight and frequencies. They hang in a single level cast iron lowside frame.
(Most of the above information is quoted directly (with permission) from the research notes of Chris Pickford)
Details Of The Bells
1. John Taylor & Co, Loughborough 1955 4-1-12 26.06" 1404.0Hz (F+9c) 2. John Taylor & Co, Loughborough 1955 4-3-24 27.25" 1323.0Hz (E+6c) 3. John Taylor & Co, Loughborough 1955 5-0-04 28.00" 1176.0Hz (D+2c) 4. John Taylor & Co, Loughborough 1955 5-1-26 30.375" 1044.0Hz (C-4c) 5. John Taylor & Co, Loughborough 1955 6-0-26 32.50" 928.0Hz (Bb-8c) 6. John Taylor & Co, Loughborough 1955 7-3-20 35.00" 875.0Hz (A-10c) 7. John Taylor & Co, Loughborough 1955 11-0-05 39.125" 778.5Hz (G-12c) 8. John Taylor & Co, Loughborough 1955 15-2-22 43.875" 692.0Hz (F-16c)
Details Of The Previous Ring
1. James Barwell, Birmingham 1890 4-3-10 26.75" 1553.5Hz (G-16c) 2. James Barwell, Birmingham 1890 4-3-24 27.675" 1439.0Hz (F#-49c) 3. James Barwell, Birmingham 1890 4-3-08 28.125" 1299.0Hz (E-26c) 4. Joseph Smith, Edgbaston 1701 5-2-16 30.25" Unknown 5. Joseph Smith, Edgbaston 1701 6-1-13 32.50" 1023.0Hz (C-39c) 6. Joseph Smith, Edgbaston 1701 7-0-25 33.75" 976.0Hz (B-21c) 7. Joseph Smith, Edgbaston 1701 9-2-14 37.50" 867.0Hz (A-26c) 8. Joseph Smith, Edgbaston 1701 11-0-10 40.375" 755.0Hz (G-65c)
Photo Gallery
None Available