Church Bells of Warwickshire

MIDDLETON St John the Baptist 3, 8-3-1 in G

Grid Reference	151/198522
Postcode	B78 2AN
Recording
Affiliation	St Martin's Guild
Peals	Felstead Database
Sunday	None
Practice	None

History

The church consists of a chancel, nave, north aisle, south porch, and west tower with a vestry north of it. The chancel and nave are of about mid-12th-century date, the former retaining remains of original windows and the latter those of the south doorway. The north aisle and arcade were added at the end of the 13th century, and late in the 15th century the west tower was built and clearstories were added above both the chancel and nave. The south porch dates from the 18th century. Much restoration appears to have been done in the same century and there was another restoration in 1876.

A ring of 3 from 1826 that are hung for ringing in an ancient wooden frame. They were retuned and rehung with new fittings by Taylors in 1939, who also strengthened the frame by the addition of iron angle plates. All the bells have been quarter turned and retain their canons. The second and tenor bells were tuned at the time of their casting and the second has responded well to the tuning machine at Taylors. The treble and tenor bells' tone remain, "..entirely typical of the work of the founder" - (CJP).

The inscriptions are given in "The Church Bells of Warwickshire", by Tilley and Walters:

The frame is of massive construction in oak. Its design suggests that it originates from the fifteenth century. All bells swing east to west. A set of ringers' rules dated 1782 and carved in stone is in the tower. A photograph of the frame was published in The Ringing World on March 30th 990, taken by the bell historian Christopher Dalton:

The were first quartered, in 1974 and have even been "pealed".

Birmingham University Society
Saturday 27th November 2004 in 3 Hours
5040 Shipping Forecast Singles
1 Samuel M Austin
2 David A C Matthews
3 Simon D G Webb (C)
Believed to be the first peal on the bells
First Peal as Conductor
First Peal in the method
Shipping Forecast Singles
3.1.1.3.1.3.1.3.1.3.1.3.1.3.1.3.1

Details of the Bells

1 Thomas Mears II, London 1826 6-0-23 33.00" 978.5Hz (B-16c)
2 Thomas Mears II, London 1826 6-2-13 34.50" 873.0Hz (A-14c)
3 Thomas Mears II, London 1826 8-1-01 38.625" 777.0Hz (G-16c)