Church Bells of Warwickshire

CLAVERDON St Michael & All Angels 6, 11-1-23 in F#

Grid Reference	151/198646
Postocde	CV35 8PD
Recording
Affiliation	Coventry DG
Peals	Felstead Database
Sunday	Check
Practice	Friday 1630

History

Set in a pleasant Warwickshire village these bells go well, the ringing chamber being raised from the ground floor in the late 1980s.

The west tower dates from the 15th century. The south aisle was added in 1830, and in 1877–8 the north aisle was added, the nave being rebuilt at the same time, the chancel restored and the north organ-chamber and south chapel added. 

Three bells survive from the ring of six supplied by Lester and Pack of Whitechapel in 1757. These replaced a ring of 5. The cost was £289 1s 1d, less £141 5s 0d allowance for the old bells, giving a net cost of £147 16s 1d. They were rehung at a cost of £36 16s 5¼d by Thomas Malin, a local carpenter in 1850 They were rehung again in 1892 by Warners who recast two of the bells.

The first peal on the bells was rung in 1909:

(The next peal on the bells was not rung until 1973!)

The inscriptions at this time are given in the Vicar's book.

Despite the peal being rung, further work - this time by Taylors - was needed in 1914 when the bells were rehung in a new cast iron lowside frame with new fittings. The cracked 4th was recast with a flat top at this time and the canons removed from the other bells, which were quarter turned. The bells were rehung on ball bearings by Taylor in 1954. The upstairs ringing chamber was created in 1985 in thanks for the long service to the church by the Loman family. The new fourth is simply inscribed "RECAST 1914"

The Rev. H.T. Tilley, the co-author (with H.B. Walters) of The Church Bells of Warwickshire (1910) was Vicar here from 1902-1905. The altar rails were given in his memory and part of the cost of the restoration of the bells in 1914 was met from a bequest by his widow.

Entrance is from inside the church and you can park by the churchyard wall.

Details of the Bells

Present Bells

1 Lester and Pack, Whitechapel    1757   4-2-03  28.375"  1267.0Hz (D#+31c)
2 John Warner & Sons, London      1892   4-3-23  29.75"   1130.0Hz (C#+33c)
3 Lester and Pack, Whitechapel    1757   6-1-01  32.50"   1005.0Hz (B+30c)
4 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough  1914   6-2-20  32.875"   949.0Hz (A#+31c)
5 Lester and Pack, Whitechapel    1757   8-2-04  37.375"   846.0Hz (G#+32c)
6 John Warner & Sons, London      1892  11-1-23  41.50"    755.0Hz (F#+35c)

Mears Ring of 6

1 Lester and Pack, Whitechapel    1757    5½cwt  D#          
2 Lester and Pack, Whitechapel    1757    6cwt   C#
3 Lester and Pack, Whitechapel    1757    7cwt   B
4 Lester and Pack, Whitechapel    1757    8cwt   A#
5 Lester and Pack, Whitechapel    1757   10cwt   G#
6 Lester and Pack, Whitechapel    1757   13cwt   F#
(As on a M&S weight card, dated 1899, in the ringing chamber) 

Photo Gallery
The Church, Looking East	The Church, Looking West	The Ringing Room
Modern Window in South Aisle	A Tomb in the Sanctuary, Ususually, it has a Window!