Old Milverton

St James 3: 6cwt in C

Grid Reference 151/297673 Old Milverton. Source: Mapio
Postcode CV32 6SA
Peals None
Date Lost 2013

History

The old church was a small building, apparently mainly of the 13th century, with chancel, nave with north aisle, and west tower.  By the end of the 18th century the greater part of the tower had been removed and replaced by a timber-framed tower with a pyramidal cap, and it is probable that the whole edifice was in poor condition. It was pulled down and completely rebuilt on the same site in 1879–80 from designs by John Gibson, at the cost of Lord Charles and Lady Ann Bertie Percy. The present building consists of chancel, north organ-chamber and vestry, north aisle, south porch, and west tower.

Until recently these bells were an unringable ring of three. They could not be rung due to problems with the tower and badly positioned Ellacombe hammers. The bells were hung dead for chiming by White’s of Appleton in September of 2013.

The simple wooden beam framework, which is mounted on a ledge in the walls of the tower was probably installed when the tower was rebuilt in 1880. The three main beams span the tower form north to south, and two of these on the west side of the tower form the frame for the tenor, which swings north to south. Three further parallel beams have been fixed between the eastern and centre main beams to provide pits for the treble and second bells to swing east to west.

The fittings were older than the framework, probably from early in the 19th century. They consisted of wooden headstocks, drive-in gudgeons, stock hoops, plain brass bearings, unorthodox type wheels, and ground pullies. The treble and second had metal latchet stays and pendulum sliders, and the tenor a traditional stay and slider.

An Ellacombe type chiming apparatus was installed, possibly when the tower was rebuilt.

The inscriptions are given in Tilley and Walters’ book, “The Church Bells of Warwickshire”:

Old Milverton Inscriptions

This well cared for church can be seen from the A46 at the junction for Warwick and Leek Wootton, but it cannot be reached from it! Get a map and come to it from the Leamington Spa direction or use your sat nav carefully.

Details of the Bells

1 John Warner, London           1863  3½cwt  26.00″
2 John Warner, London           1863  4½cwt  28.00″
3 William Chamberlain, London  c1460  6cwt   31.375″

Photo Gallery

Old Milverton. Source: A MacRae Thomson
The Church – Looking East
Old Milverton Bell. Source: Church Website
One of the bells is pictured on the church’s website.
These three pictures of the bells were  taken by Chris Vincett when they were taken down by Whites of Appleton.
milverton bell 1 milverton bell 2
milverton bell 3 milverton clock
milverton old fittings milverton old fittings2
milverton sallies Pictures of the installation taken by Keith Chambers in March 2024. They are now chimed, left to right, from the vestry and the ropes go through tthe tower wall at 90 degrees to get to the bells.