Project Description
The magnificent ring of eight church bells at St Andrews Church, were in need of some much needed care and attention, and they received their first major overhaul since they were installed in 1949.
The two oldest bells in the tower were cast in 1662 and 1730, and were hung on carved timber headstocks, which had become warped and twisted over the years, causing the bells to be odd struck and difficult to ring. They required new metal canon retaining headstocks. The bells were lowered from the tower and taken to John Taylor & Co of Loughborough for this work to be done.
At the same time, the clappers of all the bells were also returned to John Taylor's where years of wear and tear were be corrected with a complete overhaul.
Whilst the two old bells and clappers were at John Taylor’s, the metal frame was repainted.
Work started on 23 July 2018, and the Dedication Service took place on Sunday 18 November 2018.
Project Costs
The cost of this work was:
£27,000 approx.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE FUTURE UPKEEP OF
THE BELLS of ST ANDREWS CHURCH
For donations using online banking:
Account name: PCC Wanborough St Andrews 1 A/C
Sort Code: 30-98-41 Account number: 00316459
In order to receive a receipt/acknowledgement for your donation, please e-mail
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with the date and amount of the donation
and be sure to reference the donations with your name and the word BELLS.
Gift Aid Donations can be made by cash or cheque
(made payable to Wanborough PCC)
Donate using Gift Aid, and the Bells Project
can claim back from HMRC 25p for every £1 donated.
The following organisations have awarded grants to the Bells Project for which we are grateful:
Barron Bell Trust
The Sharpe Trust
Wanborough 6th Bell with Wooden Headstock Typical Metal Headstocks
Photo: Malcolm Barnes Photo: John Taylor & Co
Photos of the bells being removed can be found at:
Link to Dropbox
Wanborough and Liddington churches urgently needs volunteers to join the joint band of ringers who now ring the bells at both churches.
So far, only one person has been recruited in the last 2 years and the band is eager to recruit more learners so that the bells at both churches will continue to be rung.
Church bells are rung for:
- Sunday Services
- Weddings and occasionally funerals
- Christmas, Easter and other Church festivals
- New Year celebrations
- National and International Events
- Local occasions
- Practices
Ringers come from all walks of life and of all ages and ringing is well within the capabilities of most people.
Being able to count is all the maths you need to know. And it is more skill than strength that is required.
Learners Practices will be arranged to suit our learners.
But if you would like to come along on a Friday night to see what bell ringing is all about, the main weekly practice starts at 7.30 pm and are held at Wanborough on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Fridays of the month and at Liddington on 2nd and 4th Fridays.
If you would like to have a go or you need more information about church bell ringing, please contact Tony Pullan on 0774 5011 788.
The Parish of Wanborough is in the United Benefice of Liddington, Wanborough, Hinton Parva and Bishopstone, in the Diocese of Bristol. The church is affiliated to the Gloucester and Bristol Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers and its ringers are members of the Swindon Branch.
Wanborough is situated in mainly rural surroundings in the Borough of Swindon, in north east Wiltshire. It is 3.5 miles from Swindon town centre and is 1.8 miles from Junction 15 of the M4 motorway.
The village is split into Lower and Upper Wanborough. Whilst the lower and upper village can be said to lie in open countryside, modern new housing has been built on the sloping land between which has begun to link the the two historic settlements.
There has been a church at Wanborough since no later than the 11th century and it sits on an elevated piece of land at Upper Wanborough. In 1091 it was granted by Saint Osmund to the Chapter of Salisbury. By the end of the 14th century, the advowson of Wanborough belonged to Amesbury Priory. In 1541, following the dissolution of the Monasteries, the rectory and advowson of the parish were granted to the Dean and Chapter of Winchester. In 1908 the rights of advowson were transferred to the Lord Chancellor.
In the 14th century, the nave was rebuilt, along with the tower and spire above the crossing. A western tower was added in the 15th century, with construction being completed in 1435. A chancel and porch to the north were also added in the 15th century. Restoration work took place in 1887. When whitewash and plaster were removed from the inside walls, wall paintings from the 15th century were revealed.
The Pubs of Wanborough
Wanborough has a fine selection of pubs and eating places for such a small village, not all of them in the centre of the village though.
The New Calley Arms - https://en-gb.facebook.com/newcalleyarms
The Brewers Arms - http://www.brewers-arms.co.uk
The Harrow Inn - https://harrowinnswindon.co.uk
The Plough Inn - http://www.theplough.info
The Cross Keys - https://www.thecrosskeyswanborough.com
The Burj Indian Restaurant - http://theburj.co.uk/
Visiting Ringers
Wanborough welcomes visiting ringers and because of its location, just 1.8 miles from Junction 15 of the M4 motorway, it is a convenient tower for visiting ringers.
- Upstairs Ringing Chamber: 48 steps
- No toilet facilities
Should you wish to visit Wanborough please can you give at least 6 weeks notice so that that notice of all additional ringing can be put in the Parish Magazine.
We do not charge for visiting ringers but do ask for a voluntary donation to cover wear and tear of ropes, future maintenance, etc.
Peals and Quarter Peals
One peal attempt is permitted each year, on Saturdays between November and February.
There is no restriction on quarter peals, but it is best to contact the tower captain first to check availability.
We suggest a minimum voluntary donation of £120 (£15 per rope) for peals, and £40 (£5 per rope) for quarter peals.
Wanborough Show
For Community and Local Heritage
Third Saturday in August
I regret that the belfry and tower roof of St Andrews Church, Wanborough
will not be open for tower tours on Show days in the future.
Health & Safety guidelines of the church insurer, Ecclesiastical Insurance,
has resulted in the tower roof not conforming to their requirements.
Tower tours as far as the ringing chamber may take place, where a camera in the belfry, and a monitor in the ringing chamber allows visitors to ring a bell, and see it moving.
The ringers of the tower have opened up the tower for many years without incident, and we would like to thank all of you for visiting. Not only have tower tours been enjoyed by many visitors, they have been a useful source of income to the church.
Tony Pullan - Tower Captain
