Church Bells of Warwickshire

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

radford_semele.jpg (77943 bytes)

Grid Reference:-
151/343648

Postcode:
CV31 1FH

Bell Audio:-
None Available

Guild Affiliation:-
Coventry DG

Peals Rung Here:-
Felstead Database

Sunday Ringing:-
Not known

Practice Night:-
Monday
1930 - 2100

Sadly this church was gutted by fire on the morning of 16/3/08. Only the stone walls have been left standing. There is unlikely to be any ringing here for some time to come. It seems more likely now than not that the fire was started deliberately, a cremation stone being found inside the building when the clear up was being carried out. Up-to-date information about the restoration of the church can be found here

History Of The Bells

In a nice setting just outside, but away from, Leamington Spa. 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. The Taylor bells were cast with flat tops, the others retain their canons.

A 8 bell frame was purchased from a church in Cheylesmore, Coventry, where it was installed but never filled with bells. The surplus side frames were initially sold on to Studley for their augmentation project, but they were then sold on to Beoley, Worcs as new frame sides made Studley's project easier. 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.

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
2    John of Gloucester               c1350   4-0-12  28.375"  1131.0Hz
3    Hugh Watts II, Leicester          1636   5-3-26  31.25"   1010.0Hz
4    John Taylor & Co, Loughborough    1998   6-2-14  32.50"    953.0Hz
5    Henry Bagley I, Chacombe          1641   7-3-21  36.25"    846.0Hz
6    Hugh Watts II, Leicester          1636   9-3-19  38.75"    757.0Hz

Photo Gallery

radfire1.jpg (34096 bytes)
The church on fire
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Looking down the church
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A firefighter examines
the damage in the nave.
radfire4.jpg (26685 bytes)
The remains of the font.
radfire2.jpg (53823 bytes)
The bells left hanging in their frame.
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The damaged east end.
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The view from the south.
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One of the bells at Taylors
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Two of the bells at Taylors