Church Bells of Warwickshire

WHATCOTE St Peter 3, 6cwt in C

Grid Reference	151/299445
Postcode	CV36 5EB
Recording
Affiliation	Coventry DG
Peals	None
Sunday	None
Practice	None

History

The church is a small building with a chancel, nave, south porch, and west tower. The nave dates from early to mid-12th century, the north doorway remaining in place, and probably two windows. Other windows are of the 13th century, when the chancel was rebuilt and the tower added: the upper part of the tower is a later 13th-century sequence, but it has been constantly repaired and altered during the subsequent centuries, as two of the bell-chamber windows, at least, are of the 15th century, as well as the parapet. There have been more modern restorations including the rebuilding of the east wall.

Despite being located in rural South Warwickshire, this church was a victim of World War II bombing, the result of a stray, surplus bomb jettisened by German airmen as they returned from raids over either Coventry or Birmingham; it hit the south side of the building in 1941. The south west corner of the nave, most of the south porch and the nave roof were demolished, though fortunately the tower and chancel seemed to have escaped serious injury

The treble bell is a recast of Henry Bagley bell of 1652 and the tenor a recast of Matthew Bagley bell of 1766. The bells hang in a 16th century frame for three; fittings are 1878 by Blews. Formerly a ring of four (two in the centre pit). One bell is rumoured to have gone to Ildicote, (25" Henry Bagley, 1636), though the fact that it has the churchwardens' names for Idlicote as part of the inscription tends to discount this. The bells all retain their canons and the second alone has been quarter turned.  The inscriptions are given in Tilley and Walters' book, "The Church Bells of Warwickshire":

Until recently these bells were rung from the ground floor

The church is near the village centre - down Church Lane.

Details of the Bells

1 William Blews, Birmingham  1878  3¾cwt  25.00"  1380.5Hz (F-20c)
2 John Clark, Evesham        1711  4½cwt  27.25"  1215.5Hz (Eb-41c)
3 Henry Bond, Burford        1897  6cwt   31.25"  1065.0Hz (C+30c)

Photo Gallery
The Church - Looking East	The Church - Looking West	A photograph in the church of the damage caused in WWII