Withybrook

All Saints 4: 8cwt in Ab (GF)

Grid Refernce 140/437841 Withybrook. Source: Mike Chester
Postcode CV7 9LP
Recording
Affiliation Coventry DG
Peals None
Sunday By Arrangement
Practice By Arrangement

History

A delightful village setting by a stream. Find the church on a 90 degree bend on the main road, hidden behind The Pheasant pub, (that is worth visiting in itself). Leave your car around here, as the narrow road down the right side of the pub to the church has no parking or turning space at the end.

The church, east of the village, stands in a small churchyard. It consists of a chancel, nave, north and south aisles, north chapel, south porch, and a tower built into the north-west corner of the church. It was rebuilt in the 14th century when the aisles were added. The only evidence of an earlier church is a late-12thcentury font. Late in the 15th century the tower was built, the aisle being widened to accommodate it, the chapel and clearstory added, and the chancel partly rebuilt. It was restored in 1821 and again in 1890.

The bells are an old fashioned set that take some ringing, but are by no means unringable. They have had a fine iron rope guide added and the pullies overhauled and therefore go a bit better than previously.

They hang in an oak frame from c.1820, with fittings by Barwell, 1907. The three cracked trebles, Robert(?) Newcombe of Leicester, 1582, Bryan Eldridge of Coventry, 1656 and John Martin of Worcester, 1654 were all recast at this time. Tilley and Walters state that these bells were cracked, the second and third being so by 1876. The treble was one of the earliest dated bells in the county, and it therefore a pity that it was lost. The tenor retains its canons and has been quarter turned, the others were cast with flat tops.

The fittings consist of elm headstocks, plate gudgeons, plain brass bearings and traditional wooden wheels, stays and sliders.

The inscription details can be found in Tilley and Walters’ book,. “The Church Bells of Warwickshire”:

Withybrook Inscriptions

The tower is, unusually, on the North-West side of the church. There is also an unusual Easter Sepulchre beside the altar – the host and wine used in mediaeval times be “buried” in it between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Entry is via the south door. The worn steps in the tower that were previously been referred to have now been fixed.

Details of the Bells

1 James Barwell, Birmingham  1907  4cwt   28.25″  1148.0Hz (Db+60c)
2 James Barwell, Birmingham  1907  5½cwt  29.00″  1081.0Hz (C+56c)
3 James Barwell, Birmingham  1907  6cwt   33.00″   960.0Hz (Bb+51c)
4 Newcombe, Leicester        1612  8cwt   36.50″   850.0Hz (Ab+40c)

Photo Gallery

Withybrook East. Source: Mike Chester Withybrook West. Source: Mike Chester
Looking East Looking West
Withybrook Altar. Source: Mike Chester Withybrook Font. Source: Mike Chester
The Altar The Font
Withybrook Treble. Source: Mike Chester Withybrook Second. Source: Mike Chester
The Treble The Second
Withybrook Third. Source: Mike Chester Withybrook Tenor. Source: Mike Chester
The Third The Tenor
Withybrook Rope Guide Withybrook Bells. Source: Mike Chester
The Fine Rope Guide The Bells
Withybrook Bells. Source: Mike Chester Layout 4.2
The Ringing Chamber The Frame Layout