Weston under Wetherley

St Michael 4: 7½cwt in A (Anticlockwise) – Unringable

Grid Reference 151/360692 Weston under Wetherley. Source: Steve Bullman
Postcode CV33 9BY
Recording None Available
Affiliation Coventry DG
Peals None
Sunday None
Practice None
Other Information Unringable. Anticlockwise

History

The church lies on the north side of the Leamington-Rugby road. It stands on a bank above the road and has a small enclosed churchyard. The church consists of chancel, north chapel, nave, north aisle, west tower, vestry, and south porch. There is evidence of a 12th-century church in the north and south walls of the chancel, consisting of the eastern halves of two semi-circular headed blocked windows. Early in the 13th century the church was almost entirely rebuilt; the tower was built early in the 14th century, except the top stage, added late in the 14th century; a north chapel was built in the 16th century, and, in relatively modern times, a vestry and south porch.

These bells are very unringable, but the frame and fittings are of quite some historic interest and should be treated with care if the bells are ever to be restored. The bells hang in a seventeenth century oak frame built for four bells; it dates from about 1640. It is arranged so that bells 1, 2 and 3 swing north to sough and side by side, with the treble along the east wall. The tenor swings east to west along the south wall. The results in an anticlockwise rope circle. The stocks are possibly contemporary, but the wheels, clappers and some of the supporting ironwork were renewed in the early nineteenth century.

Bells two & three are badly cracked from the soundbow to the waist, due to being “clocked”. This is a real pity as they are two of only three existing bells by this founder. Tilley and Walters in “The Church Bells of Warwickshire” say that the second was cracked as far back as 1830. The treble and tenor are said to be able to be swing chimed. All the bells bar the treble are “listed”.

The fittings consist of oak headstocks, drive-in gudgeons, stock hoops, plain brass bearings and traditional wheels (but without meeting spokes), stays and sliders. All the bells retain their canons and none have been quarter turned.

The notes of the treble and tenor are D and A respectively, those of the middle bells are too badly cracked to check if they accurately form the missing notes of the scale.

The inscriptions are given in Tilley and Walters’ book.

Weston under Wetherley Inscriptions

It is noted at the time of their visits, (HTT 9/10/1878 HBW 09/1907) that “The 2nd is cracked right down, and the 3rd around the middle : bells dirty and neglected”

Details of the Bells

1 Hugh Watts II, Leicester               1624   4½cwt  27.50″  1193.5Hz (D+28c)
2 Galfridus (Geoffrey) Giles, Coventry   1583   5cwt   29.00″
3 Galfridus (Geoffrey) Giles, Coventry   1583   6cwt   31.625″
4 Watts, Leicester (Generic)           c.1592   7½cwt  34.50″   868.0Hz (A-24c)

There is a bell on display in the church, which was moved here from Hunningham in 2013.  It weighs 2¾ cwt, is 23.38″ in diameter and was cast in c.1400. This listed bell is cracked in the crown and has had its canons removed. Its founder is unknown.

Photo Gallery

Weston under Wetherley East. Source: A MacRae Thomson Weston under Wetherley West. Source: A MacRae Thomson
The Church – Looking East The Church – Looking West
Weston under Wetherley Plan. Source: British History Online Layout 4.3
A Plan of the Church The Frame Layout