Church Bells of Warwickshire

ETTINGTON Holy Trinity 4, 10½cwt in Ab

Grid Reference	151/267490
Postcode	CV37 7TR
Recording
Affiliation	Coventry DG
Peals	None
Sunday	None
Practice	None

History

There was, until quite recently, some debate about the ringability or otherwise of these bells. They were rung in the recent past but were not for the less experienced and had a period of time when ringing was not allowed. Recent work means that these bells are ringable, but with limited access due to their condition. There is plenty of room for a ring of six, should you wish to take on a project!

The frame is by John Waters of Kings Sutton, 1803. Fittings also by Waters, but overhauled and partly renewed when the bells and frame were moved from the previous church, dedicated to St Thomas of Canterbury, to the present one by George Day of Eye in 1909. All the bells retain their canons and have been quarter turned.

These bells have hung in three different churches - in the mediaeval church in Ettington Park until 1803, in the new church, St Thomas', (tenor recast) on the Stratford Road (built in 1795-8 - the tower still stands. It has recently been converted into a residence) until 1909, and since then in the present church (church 1903, tower 1908-9). The note of the tenor is Ab, rather than the G quoted until analysis in 2009.  It is a little sharp for the other bells and "Dove" now has them as 1b, 2, 3, 4 of 4. All but the tenor are "listed" bells.

The inscriptions can be found in "The Church Bells of Warwickshire", by Tilley and Waters (1910)

The  current church was built of Bourton stone in 1903 in the 14th-century style and consists of a chancel, north tower and organ chamber, south vestry, and nave. The previous church was built in 1798, partly as the population of the village was in now living in this area, and demolished in 1913, the "Shirley Transept" being built in 1800.  The tower of this church has been converted into a private residence.

The original parish church, dedicated to the Holy Trinity are about 1½ miles to the south-west of the current church. It consisted of a chancel, nave, north and south transepts, north aisle to the nave, and a west tower. The south transept, restored in 1825 by E. J. Shirley, and the west tower still stand. The remainder is effectively a ruin

From the Ettington Park Website

"All that remains now are the tower, which is home to rare Horseshoe bats, the walls of the nave, and the chapel which houses the Shirley family's mausoleum, and which can still be used for blessings."

Details of the Bells

1 Edward Newcombe, Leicester            1595   5½cwt  31.50"  1055.5Hz (C+15c)
2 Edward Newcombe, Leicester            1595   7cwt   33.00"   987.5Hz (B+0)
3 Richard Purdue of Bristol (Banbury?)  1624   8¼cwt  36.50"   899.0Hz (A+37c)
4 John Briant, Hertford                 1803  10½cwt  38.75"   820.5Hz (Ab-21c)

Photo Gallery
The first home of the bells as it is today	Ettington, St Thomas of Canterbury the second home of the bells.	The Second Church Following its Conversion
Inside St Thomas of Canterbury shortly before demolision. "The Shirley Pew"	The first home of the bells in the 1920s.	The Dedication Stone above the ringing room doorway
The Church Looking Towards the Altar	The Nave
The Treble	The Second
The Third	The Tenor