Church Bells of Warwickshire

WROXALL, St Leonard 3: 9cwt in Bb - Unringable

Grid Reference	139/221707
Postcode	CV35 7NB
Recording	None Available
Affiliation	Private Ownership
Peals	None
Sunday	None
Practice	None
Other Information	Unringable - Private Ownership

History

The church was originally structurally part of the priory church, but it is probable that this part was always assigned to the parishioners and that the destroyed portion south of it constituted the church of the nuns. It is a rectangular structure 94 ft. long by 22 ft. wide, dating from about 1315 and having the west tower of 1663–4 built within the west end. At the east end of the south side is a relatively modern organ chamber.

These bells are hopelessly unringable. The frame is a Bagley installation from time of treble, no pulleys are present. The bells, all being maiden castings, are in the key of Bb major. They hang in a wooden frame of 1664. Christopher Dalton, a well-known bell historian wrote in a letter published in The Ringing World of July 3rd 1964, "Dear Sir,—Your Winchester correspondent asks (June 19th) about stays in the form of metal ‘ spurs ’ or ‘ spikes ’ such as were fitted at St. Laurence’s Church. I cannot say who originated this type of stay, but it does seem to have been quite common a hundred or more years ago........... Two out of the ring of three bells at Wroxall. in Warwickshire, are fitted with these stays. The frame here is 17th century but the stays are probably 19th century replacements.

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

The church has now passed into private ownership, Wroxall Abbey Estates and they have renamed it as "Wren's Chapel". Its ministers are from the Free Methodist Church in Solihull.

Details of the Bells

1 Henry Bagley I, Chacombe   1664  5cwt  29.00"  1174.0Hz (D-1c)
2 Newcombe, Leicester       c1600  7cwt  33.75"  1038.0Hz (C-14c)
3 Thomas Bullisdon, London  c1500  9cwt  38.00"   928.0Hz (Bb-8c)

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