Church Bells of Warwickshire

PRIORS HARDWICK St Mary 3, 8cwt in Bb (GF)

Grid Reference	151/472562
Postocde	CV47 7SN
Recording
Affiliation	Coventry DG
Peals	None
Sunday	None
Practice	None

History

The church of consists of a chancel, nave, north vestry, south porch, and west tower. The building is of early-to mid-13th-century origin, but of this period only the west tower remains. The chancel was rebuilt and much enlarged c. 1300 and has some interesting details of that period. The nave, which is short and broad for its length, was probably widened at the same time or very shortly afterwards, but its side walls were entirely rebuilt in 1868, and only the early 14th-century doorways and west wall survive. New roofs were also provided and a vestry built in place of a north porch. There have been other repairs during the 20th century to chancel windows, &c.

These bells are hung in a two-tier wrought iron "bar" frame by Webb and Bennett of Kidlington in 1922, the treble being hung above the others. Mears & Stainbank replaced the treble headstock in 1959. All the bells have been quarter turned. A grant was given to the church by the Coventry DG on 7/7/01 to help repair the treble wheel and to install rope guides. This has been completed. A small tower, making any projected augmentation difficult.

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

The bells do not form a "true" three, being about 1, 3 & 4 of a four - those old enough might remember the children's show, "The Banana Splits"; the bells form the first three notes of the signature tune! They have been quarter pealed, in 1990. The exact pitch of the tenor is Bb-12 cents.

Follow the signs for the village centre from the (relatively!) main road and you soon find the church and can park on the road before or after it.

Details of the Bells

1 Henry Bagley I, Chacombe     1670  4cwt   27.75"  1214.5Hz (Eb-42c)
2 Thomas Newcombe, Leicester  c1580  6½cwt  31.75"  1015.5Hz (B+48c)
3 Henry Bagley I, Chacombe     1670  8cwt   34.375"  926.0Hz (Bb-12c)

Photo Gallery
The Church - Looking West	The Church - Looking East