Grid Reference:-
140/409757
Postcode:
CV8 3HP
Bell Audio:-
Hear the bells
Guild Affiliation:-
Coventry DG
Peals Rung Here:-
Felstead Database
Sunday Ringing:-
1030 - 1100
Practice Night:-
Monday
1945 - 2100
History Of The Bells
Near to, but definitely apart from, Coventry to the west of the city, this is a very pretty village. Look carefully for the sign over a small bridge to the church off the main road through the village. You will find a church with a Norman central tower.
There might have been six bells here before the partial collapse of the tower in 1759, but the source, the Browne Willis Survey, has been shown to be often unreliable. Certainly there were only three bells here in 1894 when the bells were rehung and eighth turned and a treble was added to make four. The front three of this ring remain as bells five, six and seven.
The bells remained a ringable four until 1982 when they were rehung and augmented to 8. There was enough bellmetal remaining from the former ring of three at Winderton after it being used to cast two trebles at both Harbury and Wellesbourne to cast the new treble here. The tonally poor tenor (8cwt) was subsequently replaced by a heavier one in 1993.
The frame incorporates a composite frame installed by Taylors in 1894 with second-hand Gillett & Johnston frame castings of 1919 (as at Harbury) from St. Stephen's, Clapham Park. The old four were rehung by Taylors in 1966. Relatively minor work to improve the go and striking characteristics of the bells was carried out by Nicholson of Bridport in December 2001.
You can park by the church gate and follow the path to the left of the church to gain entry. Though ground floor the draft is not excessive, at about 20 feet, and the bells go well. Worth a visit.
Details Of The Bells
1 John Taylor Bellfounders Ltd, Loughborough 1981 3-1-24 23.63" 1646.0Hz (G#-16c) 2 John Taylor Bellfounders Ltd, Loughborough 1981 3-1-05 24.25 1542.0Hz (Fx-29c) 3 John Taylor Bellfounders Ltd, Loughborough 1981 3-1-26 25.375" 1370.0Hz (E#-34c) 4 John Taylor Bellfounders Ltd, Loughborough 1981 3-3-23 27.00" 1234.0Hz (D#-15c) 5 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough 1894 5-0-13 29.50" 1098.0Hz (C#-17c) 6 John de Stafford, Leicester c1360 5-2-14 31.50" 1028.0Hz (B#-31c) 7 William Clibury, Wellington 1620 7-0-12 34.50" 924.0Hz (A#-16c) 8 John Taylor Bellfounders Ltd, Loughborough 1993 11-0-02 38.25 819.0Hz (G#-24c)
Photo Gallery
The Chancel Crossing ringing area. |