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St Nicholas Church Willoughby   Warwickshire   Diocese of Coventry

 

DETAILS OF BELLS

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Treble:  + MR. ROBERT WATSON FARMER AND MR. WILLIAM CLARKE, CHURCH WARDENS 1713

 

cast by Joseph Smith at Handsworth 1713,   dia 30.38 in.          Note D + 6 cents [1179Hz]

Wheel sole diameter 5 ft. 2 in.

 

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2. + JOSEPH SMITH IN EDGBASTON MADE MEE 1713

after the cross and interspersed with the inscription are impressions of eight coins

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cast by Joseph Smith 1713,  dia. 31.5 in.                   Note C + 17 cents [1057 Hz]

 

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3. + GOD SAVE HIS CHURCH

with seven coins interspersed

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Cast by Joseph Smith 1713,  dia. 33.25 in.      Note Bb + 25 cents [946Hz]

 

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4. + MR. ROBERT WATSON, FARMOR AND MR. WILLIAM CIARKE CHURCHWARDENS 1713

with three coins interspersed

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Cast by Joseph Smith 1713,  dia. 34.25 in.      Note A  + 37 cents [899Hz]

 

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5. + MR. WILLIAM TURTON MINISTER M ROBERT. WATSON FARMOR AND MR. WILLIAM CLARKE CHURCH /WARDENS 1713

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Cast by Joseph Smith 1713,  dia. 38 in.            Note G + 18 cents [792Hz]

 

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Tenor:   JOHN MALLING AND HENRY MILLS CHURCH WARDENS, WM. CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1781 

on waist

MY MOURNFUL SOUND DOTH WARNING GIVE, THAT HERE MEN CANNOT ALWAYS LIVE

 

cast by William Chapman at Whitechapel 1781,  dia. 43.5 in.   Note F + 21 cents [707Hz]

 

All bells retain their canons.

 

Hung in an oak frame made by Mr Ward in 1820 to Pickford’s layout 6.1, order 6,1,2,3,4,5 with truss layout ?? The frame was strengthened when the bells were rehung by Mears & Stainbank (Whitechapel) in 1926. Some relatively minor work to items such as clappers, pullies and flapper boards was carried out by Taylors in September 2013.

Bells 1 -5 are ‘listed’ in the ChurchCare database of historically significant bells and bell frames.

 

The treble rope is in the South East corner of the tower.

 

 

 

Info from: The History of the Village of Willoughby in the County of Warwick containing An account of the sulphureous and saline springs lately discovered and the establishment of Hot, Cold, and Shower Baths together with Observations on the geological discoveries there to which is added An abridged description of the most interesting places in the neighbourhood by Thomas Deacon London Published by W Clark 60 Paternoster Row and may be had at The New Willoughby Baths and of the Booksellers at Southam, Daventry, Rugby, Coventry, Leamington, Warwick, Birmingham, and Northampton 1828

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There is also a musical chime, which was brought from Southam, and pint up in 1724, and has been lately repaired at an expense of upwards of £70.

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In the 1552 inventory it was revealed that Willoughby had three bells and a saunce or sanctus bell. As the existing tower was not added until 1663 and there was no chancel it is more than likely that these four bells hung in a turret probably at the east end of tine church and would be fitted with shafts or levers with ropes attached with which to ring them

 

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From Willoughby Society Archives

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The bells seem popular in the early 18th Century for it is recorded that Bells 4-6 were hung in 1713. In 1549 an inventory of all goods belonging to the church had to be returned to the Bishop of the diocese, and apprently another inventory was made in 1552.  

At this latter inventory it was revealed that Willoughby had three bells and a saunce or sanctus bell. As the existing tower was not added until 1663 and there was no chancel it is more than likely that these four bells hung in a turret probably at the east end of tine church and would be fitted with shafts or levers with ropes attached with which to ring them, Half wheels followed then full wheels, which allowed the hell to swing a full circle.

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When Joseph Smith set up in business in 1701 the first bells he cast were for Handsworth in that year, and his latest a bell at Smethwick in 1732. The total number of bells he cast in that period was 150 five of which were cast for Willoughby in 1713. So it was fifty years after the tower was built that the bells, which made a minor peal were installed.

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In 1781 a sixth bell was added making the peel into a major one. This was cast by William Chapman of the Whitechapel foundry, which earlier during the life of the older partner Lester Pack - died 1768 had cast the first bell of Wolfhamcote Church. The foundry now belongs to Mears and Stainbank. It seems rather odd that Joseph Smith was commissioned to Install five bells only, and that a minor peal because the frame was made to accept six bells and it has not been discovered why 68 years elapsed before the Sixth was added It has been suggested by Mears and Stainbank that William Chapman might have recast an existing tenor! but in 'Church Bells o Warwickshire' it is -recorded that in 1750 there were only five bells in the tower, which rather refuted that suggestion.

of scrolls which terminate in the centre with a flower. He also had a trade mark in the form of an inverted shield with scrolls and two bells. The decoration or border is to be seen on Willoughby bells. There is a Inscription starting with a cross on each bell*  The inscription is:-

 

No.l. Mr. Robert Watson Farmer and Mr. William Clarke, Church Wardens 1713 with a running border below.

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No.2 Joseph Smith in Edgbaston made mee 1713 There is no running border and after the cross and interspersed with the inscription he has eight coins and a border

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No.3. God Save His Church. Here again he has his border and seven coins interspersed and running border below.

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No.4 Mr. Robert Watson, Farmor and Mr. William CIarke Churchwardens 1713. On this bell there is no border and only three coins,

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No.5 Mr. William Turton Minister M Robert Watson Farmor and Mr. William Clarke Church and below Wardens 1713 There is one stop between the christian and surname of the Minister and a running border.

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No.6 is inscribed John Malling and Henry Mills Church Wardens, Wm. Chapman of London Fecit 1781 There is a short border before Chapman's name and one after the date. At the waist of the bell is inscribed 'My mournful sound doth warning give that here men cannot always live"  Whether by accident or design the word farmer on the treble bell, is spelt as we know it but on the fourth and fifth bells It is spelt 'farmor'.

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The frame in which the bells hang is made of oak beams and it is quite possible that it is the original one. It is quite likely too that the headstock and wheels lasted for over two centuries.

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From old records we find that the bellringers were paid 6/-.each at Christmas this was paid until about the time of the 1914-1918 world war. The bells must have been rung regularly from the depth of the indents made by the clappers, during the XVIII and XIX centuries We do know that there was a band of bell ringers in 1858 and It is fair to assume that there always was a band as the art of ringing a bell is usually handed from band to band Also if the bells had not been rung for a very long time they would not have been ringable in 1880 for bells fittings and frames deteriorate much more quickly if they are not rung. In the second decade of this century the headstocks and wheels, through age began to show signs of decay. The 'go' was bad because the frame became loose in the joints!, and the bells had get very thin on the bow where the clapper struck and they were condemned as being unsafe to ring. They had been rung regularly on festival days, and during the 1914- 1918 world war on the occasions of the Allies winning a battle and half muffled to the memory of the fallen.

As far as we know the last time the bells were rung before being condemned was on Peace Day July 19th I919. In 1923 a committee was formed to raise money to put the bells in ringable order Expert advice was sought and John Taylor & Sons of Loughborough Gillett & Johnson and Mears & Stainbank of London were Invited to give estimates Taylors' and Gillett & Johnson's estimates included a new cast iron frame Mears and Stainbank suggested that as the wood in the frame Was sound they could strengthen it and quarter turn the bells at a cost which was accepted of £230 as against £1,000 by the other firms.

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Before the work of restoring the bells could be started it was necessary for the tower to be repaired. The batttlements were in a crumbling condition and the joints in several courses below the roof were open. The roof was also in a leaky condition The 'battlements were renewed and the open joints grouted with liquid cement and a new roof built at a cost of £150.  This money forthcoming from the extraordinary repair funds, which is a fund maintained by a yearly payment from the Willoughby Charity, the amount credited at that time being £10 per annum.

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The restoration of the bells took place in 1926 and they were rung for the first time on Boxing Day of that year and the entire work was carried out by one man. As the bells were not taken out of the Church no rededication was necessary and as far as is known no service was held to mark the successful-completion of this important work* Willoughby bells cannot lay claim to be an outstanding peal, with the exception of possessing a rare bell, the tenor but their tone is pleasing, they are of medium weight and the 'go' is, good. The go of a bell can be good when rung on its own but should there be any defect in the frame which holds all the bells, It could react differently when all the belle are in motion so we can deduce that there is not much wrong with the bell frame in our own belfrey.

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The work entailed in putting the bells in ringing order consisted of first detaching the bells from the headstocks thus allowing them to rest on blocks. While in this position they were turned on their mouths through 90° fitting new headstocks and wheels made from teaks and ball bearings, Fitting mid steel angles into the corners of the frame and mild steel upright suports between the top and bottom members of the frame. New guide pulleys were added also new ropes.

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An interesting and perhaps earlier Carrilon of bells was brought from Southam and installed in the tower in 1724. This carillon is surely a thing of interest today and it is sad to think that it is not in working order, The Clock, also of the 17th Century is, I hope also safe from the vicissitudes of  time.

 

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Nicholson Engineering Ltd website (http://www.nicholsonbellhangers.com/current--recently-completed-jobs.html) shows this entry which is undated (probably end of 2000).

 

Willoughby, Warwickshire
St.Nicholas. 6 bells, tenor 141/4 cwt in F
The bells are rung from the ground floor of the west end tower. In the clock chamber is a large c18th chime barrel. Unfortunately the only way of pulling of the chiming hammers is by a crude system in the clock chamber and this has led to severe damage to the mechanism in the past, visiting ringers often being unaware of the arrangement. We are currently installing a proper pull-off mechanism, together with a lever in the ringing chamber. Completion imminent.

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The chiming wheel mechanism was restored by village enthusiasts around 2010-5.  It is not triggered by the clock mechansm but is played ‘to order’ at agreed times.

 

 

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Page installed 14/4/2021

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