Church Bells of Warwickshire

GRANDBOROUGH St Peter 5, 16cwt in F (Unringable)

Grid Reference	151/536744
Postcode	CV23 8DJ
Recording	None Available
Affiliation	Coventry DG
Peals	None
Sunday	None
Practice	None
Other Information	Church Website  Unringable

History

You cannot miss this church in the village as it has a large spire. This heavy ring of 5 bells is in a very unringable condition, the treble being cracked from crown staple, across the crown and along the inscription band, (even so it does not sound too bad and the clock still strikes on it!)

The first church in Grandborough may have been a late Saxon chapel, held by Leofric, Earl of Mercia and his legendary wife, “Lady Godiva”. They gave Grandborough and the surrounding land to St Mary’s Benedictine Priory, Coventry. The present church dates from about the middle and the tower from about the end of the 14th century. There was also a “Chapel of the Blessed Mary of Grandborough” in the medieval period, which may not have been a separate church, but is likely to have been a Lady Chapel within the present church. Originally the church was dedicated to St Paul and this dedication was still in force up to 1730 but by 1743 it had been changed to St Peter’s. The church was re-seated in 1862-63, new material being used for nave and chancel and old miss-shaped pews used for the aisles The tower was opened out in 1868 when the western gallery was removed

Treble, third and tenor of Henry Bagley I bells and are heavily decorated. The treble has been quarter turned, apparently to prevent further damage to it, possibly in 1810. The other bells were recast in 1706 by Smith of Edgbaston and the Churchwarden's accounts have a receipt for £4/6/3 for part of his charges. His bill for recasting the two bells and providing new clappers, gudgeons and brasses amounted to £11/15/4. The back four bells have not been turned and all retain their canons.

The bells were repaired in 1789 by Thomas Watson at a cost of £12/8/6 and were last rehung in 1809 when John Over of Rugby reconstructed the oak frame, (retaining parts of the c.1630 woodwork) and provided new fittings. This work cost over £100 and was paid for by raising a loan that was not paid off until 1823. According to a letter written by William Stote that was published in The Ringing World of May 17th 1963, the bells were condemned in about 1900. They were being rung at the time details were given to Henry Tilley on 21st January 1892.

The inscriptions are given in Tilley and Walters' book, "The Church Bells of Warwickshire":

There is a chiming apparatus by W.E. Burnell of Rugby, c1950.

There is a small hope of a restoration project that flickers into life once in a while, but nothing seems to be in any way imminent.

Certainly these are bells that should not to be rung.

Details of the Bells

1 Henry Bagley I, Chacombe 1641   6½cwt  32.50"  1035.0Hz (C-19c)
2 Joseph Smith, Edgbaston  1706   8cwt   35.00"   929.0Hz (Bb-6c)
3 Henry Bagley I, Chacombe 1641   9½ct   37.75"   864.5Hz (A-31c)
4 Joseph Smith, Edgbaston  1706  12cwt   42.50"   763.5Hz (G-46c)
5 Henry Bagley I, Chacombe 1639  16cwt   45.50"   682.0Hz (F-41c)

Inscriptions:

1 Cantate domino canticum novum 1641 (O sing unto the Lord, a new song - Psalm 149).
2 John Smith in Edgebaston made me 1706.
3 Henry Bagley made me 1641.
4 Christopher Tille, Minister, Mr Philemon Clarke and Mr John Goode, churchwardens 1706. Joseph Smith made me.
5 By my voice the people may knowe to come to heare the word of God. Henry Bagley made me 1639.

Photo Gallery

The Church - Looking East