whichford_tower_guide

Whichford - Tower Guide

written by Robert Harvey in 1994 for the Four Shires Guild Tower Guide Competition

Whichford is one of the most southerly villages in Warwickshire. Whichford Hill, which is on the Warwickshire Oxfordshire boundary rises to 800 feet and is often referred to as the last hill of the Cotswolds. The area is well wooded, Whichford Wood covers 165 acres. The population is about 300, 65 years ago it was 90% Agricultural, i.e. Farmers, Farm Worker, 2 Blacksmiths, 2 Wheelwrights, a Saddler, Baker, Bootmaker and a Builder, now there are 3 farmers and 3 farm workers, the rest of the population consists of Commuters and Retired people. Ten years ago a young man came to Whichford and opened a Pottery, he now employs 20 of our local people. The village school closed 7 years ago, the Post Office and Shop closed 4 years ago, we still have a pub and of course the Church of St. Michael and All Angels.

The Nave of the Church is 12^th Century, the Chancel and the North Aisle 13^th Century and the Tower and South Aisle 14^th Century.

The Bell Tower has a peal of 6 Bells - Tenor 12-3-23 in G. Recast and rehung by Taylors in 1904.

In 1552 there were 111j Bells and 1 Sance Bell.

In 1695 William Bagley cast 4 Bells. William Taylor added a Tenor Bell in 1848.

In 1891 a new Treble was given by Robert Wincott, a Yeoman Farmer, to celebrate his 95^th birthday, at the same time he gave the Church Clock, with Westminster Chimes, this was made by Gillet & Co. who cast the bell. There is a brass plate in the Church which read:-

To the Glory Of God.

The peal of 6 Bells in the Tower was reformed, the Treble Bell being replaced by a new Tenor, the 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th recast and the Peal rehung in an iron frame at the sole cost of Richard Badger, who, on the 10^th October 1904 presented £300 to the Rector and Churchwardens for this purpose. Of the Bells recast, three were dated 1695 and one 1891. The New Peal was dedicated on the 13^th December by the Rev. Canon T. Rivington MA Vicar of St. Mary's Warwick.

Richard Badger was a Wine Merchant in Shipston On Stour, I believe he was born in Whichford, he and Robert Wincott both left £1000 to the poor of Whichford. The Bells are hung in an H Frame with plain bearings and Hastings Stays.

The Inscriptions, Weights, etc. are as follows:-


	WEIGHT	DIAMETER	DATE	NOTES
Treble	O sing unto the Lord a new song	4-1-1	27½"	1904
2	Ye people all who hear us sing Be faithful to your God and King	5-0-1	29"	1904
3	Praise God in his Sanctuary	5-3-20	31½"	1904
4	William Bagley made mee 1695	4-3-27	32"	1695	¼ turned
5	Rev Piniger Rector, W Taylor fecit J Wilkes, R Gibbs, Churchwardens	7-2-08	36"	1848
Tenor	Behold how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity	12-3-23	42"	1904

There is a Sanctus Bell in the Bell Cote above the Chancel cast by William Bagley 1706.

A Verse in the Bell Tower reads:-
Ring ring and welcom, gentil cvrtious Surs;

But know you forfit if you ring in spurs:

Tis holesum, hansum and a comly thing

To cast your cloathes of when you comes to ring

The next of cavtions is: beware you do

Not turn a bell; if so yovr groat is dew:

What law's for one, the very same's for all:

We are impartial whether great or small:

Swear not at all: at Whichford, Warwickshire.

Rob Harvey, now aged 82, recalls: "When I was a Choirboy I would disrobe and run round to the Belfry as fast as I could to ring the Pudding Bell after Morning Service. At that time Harry Harwood was an old man who had followed his father as Sexton. He told me that before 1891 only the Tenor had a Stay, also when they rang for Herbert Gibb's Wedding. Herbert, who was a local farmer, provided an 18 gallon barrel of his best cider for the ringers. They rang and drunk until it was empty! and turned several bells! I think the groat was out of circulation by then!"

Robert Harvey 24-2-1994

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