Church Bells of Warwickshire

RADFORD SEMELE St Nicholas 6, 9-3-19 in F#

Grid Reference	151/343648
Postcode	CV31 1FH
Recording
Affiliation	Coventry DG
Peals	Felstead Database
Sunday	1000-1030
Practice	Monday 1945-2100

History

In a nice setting just outside Leamington Spa, but detatched from it, this church, which is Grade II Listed, was probably built in the early 12th century and enlarged in the 14th century, at which point the tower was built. Apart from the tower and the south wall of the nave, it was largely rebuilt in 1889.

Sadly it was gutted by fire on the morning of Palm Sunday, 16th March, 2008. Only the stone walls were left standing. It seems that the fire was arson, a cremation stone being found inside the building when the clear up was being carried out. Work on the rebuild started at Easter 2012 and the church re-opened in May 2013. Most agree that the restoration has been a great success. A modern church has been created inside the old walls; one that is filled with natural light. It has been turned through 90 degrees liturgically.

The bells were an awkward ring of 4 until 1998 when they were rehung and augmented. The bells were tuned, the tenor previously being noticeably flat in relation to the other three bells. The second bell, T Mears 1818, was recast at the same time. The second of the former ring of three at Atherstone on Stour was incorporated into the ring,becoming the second of the ring of 6. The Taylor bells were cast with flat tops, the others retain their canons. Bells 1, 2, 5 and 6 have been one-eighth turned, bells 3 and 4 have not been turned.

The inscriptions of the ring of four are recorded in Tilley and Walter's book, "The Church Bells of Warwickshire", as it the Atherstone on Stour bell

A modern 8-bell frame was purchased from a church in Cheylesmore, Coventry, where it had been installed but never filled with bells. The framesides required to produce a 6-bell frame were installed here and the surplus sold to Studley for their augmentation project. However, they were subsequently sold on to Beoley in Worcsestershire as it was decided that installing new framesides made Studley's project easier. The project was reported in The Ringing world of January 15th 1999:

The first peal on the bells was rung later that same year:

The old frame (dated 1615, strengthened by William Beasley when he rehung the four in 1846/7) was retained in situ, but the transverse pit was removed. This frame was destroyed in the fire.

After the fire the bells were removed to Taylors for safety and they put back into the tower in April 2013. The wooden fittings were burnt away and were replaced and the other fittings refurbished as necessary. The frame was able to be re-used, as were the headstocks - with replacement bearings.

There are a few parking places in front of the church and at the tower end. Enter via the south door and up to the ringing room from the base of the tower.

Details of the Bells

1 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough   1998  4-0-16  26.875"  1269.0Hz (D#+34c)
2 John of Gloucester              c1350  4-0-12  28.375"  1131.0Hz (C#+34c)
3 Hugh Watts II, Leicester         1636  5-3-26  31.25"   1010.0Hz (B+39c)
4 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough   1998  6-2-14  32.50"    953.0Hz (A#+38c)
5 Henry Bagley I, Chacombe         1641  7-3-21  36.25"    846.0Hz (G#+32c)
6 Hugh Watts II, Leicester         1636  9-3-19  38.75"    757.0Hz (F#+39c)

Photo Gallery
The Fire
The Church on Fire	Looking Down the Church	The Report of the Fire in The Ringing World of 28/03/08
A firefighter examines the damage in the nave.	The Remains of the Font
The Bells in the Tower	The Damaged East End	The View From the South
The Bells in the Tower	Bell Stored at Taylors	Two of the Bells at Taylors
The Restoration of the Bells
The Refurbished Headstocks	A Wheel Under Contruction	The Taylor Bells
Resin Pads in Place on the Bells With Canons
The Restored Church
The North Side of the Church showing much new stonework	The New Window on theNorth Side of the Church, Bringing in Much Needed Light Into the Building	The New Ringing chamber
The East and North Sides of the Church	Looking West	One of the new windows in the church.