Packwood

St Giles 8: 6-3-14 in Bb (GF)

Grid Reference 139/170728 Packwood. Source: Mike Chester
Postcode B94 6AS
Affiliation St Martin’s Guild
Peals Felstead Database
Sunday 1030-1115 (ex 1st)
Practice Friday 2000-2130

History

The first stone church dates to the late 13th century, and consisted of a simple rectangular nave and chancel. The west tower was added in the late 15th century by a penitent murderer. The story goes that the Lord of Baddesley Clinton, Nicholas Brome, came home unexpectedly to find the local priest ‘chockinge’ (chucking, or tickling) his wife under the chin. Assuming that the pair were having an affair, he slew the priest in a rage. Brome had powerful friends, and he was able to gain a full pardon from both the king and the Pope, but as an act of penitence he built towers for the churches at Baddesley Clinton and Packwood. The tower has ever since been known locally as “The Tower of Atonement”.

A complete ring of five by Henry and Matthew Bagley of Chacombe was installed in 1686 and augmented to six by Barwell in 1907. The inscriptions as they were at this time are given in Tilley and Walters’ book, “The Church Bells of Warwickshire”:

Packwood Inscriptions

The church was featured in article in The Ringing World of January 2nd 1953:

Packwood RW 1953

The two trebles were recast in 1957 when the whole ring was rehung by Taylors in a new two-tier eight-bell frame, with 3, 6 & 7 above the others. The lower frame is an “H” frame and the upper a lowside frame.

The following appeared in The Ringing World of May 10th 1957:

“PACKWOOD BELLS
Now at the Loughborough foundry for retuning prior to hanging in a new frame are the bells of Packwood, Warwickshire. They are the back five of a light ring of six cast by Bagley in 1686. It is believed that the frame to be replaced is the original; it suffered from rot and nearly 300 years of ‘ handymen.’ In spite of this they were still ringable as a quarter peal was rung there on March 29th.
This was to have been a farewell peal attempt of Minor, but due to an accident the band met short, so hurriedly mustered the services of another local ringer and one from a neighbouring tower, who was known to be having tea in the district. Both are to be congratulated on ringing their first quarter literally at a moment’s notice.”

The last peal on the 6 before rehanging was actually rung on May 3rd 1957

Packwood Last Peal

The sixth and seventh were tuned in 1957, but 5 & 8 were not.

The trebles were added in 1960 to complete the octave. The ring of 8 was dedicated on September 18th 1960 and a peal was rung later the same day:

Packwood First Peal 8

The inscriptions on the four new Taylor bells are

Treble JOHN TAYLOR & CO *  FOUNDERS * LOUGHBOROUGH * 1960 *
Waist
THIS BELL IS GIVEN
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
ARCH. WILSON OF PACKWOOD HALL
BY HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN
JULY 8TH 1959
2 JOHN TAYLOR & CO *  FOUNDERS * LOUGHBOROUGH * 1960 *
Waist
THIS BELL IS GIVEN
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
ARCH. WILSON OF PACKWOOD HALL
BY HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN
JULY 8TH 1959
3 Waist a
TE DEUM LAUDAMUS
IN MEMORY OF
THOMAS SAVAGE M.D.
1907
Waist b
TAYLOR’S MARK
RECAST 1957
***
D. CAMPBELL MILLER M.A., VICAR
A. H. WILSON } CHURCHWARDENS
R. E. TALLIS     }
4 CANTATE DOMINO CANTICVM NOVVM 1686
Waist a
Coat of arms with a coin above
Waist b
Taylor’s Trademark
RECAST 1957

The Bagley bells, which have been one eighth turned, retain their canons, the Taylor bells were cast flat topped.

There are rumours once in a while of a plan to add a ringers’ gallery, but nothing seems imminent. A blocked up doorway suggests that it is possible there was a ringing gallery at some point in time.

A very “pealable” tower, often welcoming the Coventry DG “Monday Night” band.

The church is a few hundred yards off the B4439. Follow the signpost for Packwood off this road, down Glasshouse Lane. Do NOT follow the signpost to Packwood House. After about ½m, as the road turns sharp left, you go straight ahead and into the church car park. There is a church sign at the side of entrance to the road leading to the car park to look out for. Enter the church by the south door.

Details of the Bells

1 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough         1960 2-0-10  20.50″   1842.0Hz (Bb-21c)
2 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough         1960 2-1-16  31.50″   1739.0Hz (A-21c)
3 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough         1957 2-3-03  23.125″  1549.0Hz (G-21c)
4 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough         1957 3-0-12  24.50″   1380.0Hz (F-21c)
5 Matthew I & Henry II Bagley, Chacombe  1686 4-0-22  26.625″  1229.0Hz (Eb-22c)
6 Matthew I & Henry II Bagley, Chacombe  1686 4-3-00  28.625″  1161.0Hz (D-20c)
7 Matthew I & Henry II Bagley, Chacombe  1686 5-1-16  30.50″   1035.0Hz (C-19c)
8 Matthew I & Henry II Bagley, Chacombe  1686 6-3-14  33.875″   921.0Hz (Bb-21c)

Photo Gallery

Packwood East. Source: Mike Chester Packwood West. Source: Mike Chester
The Church – Looking East The Church – Looking West
Packwood Sanctuary. Source: Mike Chester
The Sanctuary The North Transept
Packwood Bells. Source: Mike Chester Packwood Bells Down. Source: Mike Chester
Looking up through the bottom frame Looking down on the bells in the lower frame
Packwood Bells Down2. Source: Mike Chester Packwood Tenor Coat of Arms. Source: Mike Chester
Looking down, showing that the lower frame is tight for space The Royal Coat of Arms on the tenor
Packwood Chip Tuning. Source: Mike Chester Packwood Headstock. Source: Mike Chester
Chip tuning marks on the soundbow of the tenor bell Looking down on the canon retaining tenor headstock
Packwood Beneath. Source: Mike Chester Packwood Ringing Chamber. Source: Mike Chester
The space beneath the bells, good for storing unneeded organ pipes! The Ringing Chamber
Packwood Bells. Source: The Ringers Packwood Plan. Source: British History Online
A  Photograph of a Photograph in the Ringing Chamber.
L-R Des Hollis, Dick Morris (Churchwarden) Revd Campbell-Miller, Bob Tallis (Ringing Master & Churchwarden), Morton Cave (Treasurer), Tom Myatt
A Plan of the Church