Wotton-under-Edge Branch
Wickwar (Holy Trinity)
Name or Dedication: Holy Trinity
Location: Wickwar, Gloucestershire
Grid Reference: ST723889
The Wickwar Church Guide states that in 1613 Roger Purdue I cast the third bell. Nothing more is known of the bells before 1695, when the ring of six was recast by Abraham Rudhall I and hung in a new wooden frame. Rudhall recast at least the second bell – maybe more – in 1716, and three of the bells were later recast by Thomas Mears I in 1808.
The ring lasted another century until it was recast into the present ring of six by Gillett & Johnston in 1908.
Bells previously hung for full-circle ringing
Bell | Weight | Diameter | Note | Founder | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Abraham Rudhall I | 1695 | |||
2 | Abraham Rudhall I | 1716 | |||
3 | Thomas Mears I | 1808 | |||
4 | Thomas Mears I | 1808 | |||
5 | Abraham Rudhall I | 1695 | |||
6 | Thomas Mears I | 1808 |
Source: "Church Bells of Gloucestershire" (Mary Bliss & Frederick Sharpe, 1986).
Where the exact weight of a bell is known, it is given in the traditional way using the British imperial units of Hundredweight, Quarters and Pounds (cwt-qtr-lb) in which there are 28 pounds in a quarter, four quarters in a hundredweight, and 20 hundredweight in a ton (one hundredweight is equal to approximately 50.8 kilograms). However, if only an approximate or calculated weight is known, it is given to the nearest quarter of a hundredweight.
A bell's diameter is measured across its mouth (open end) at the widest point and is given in inches (to the nearest quarter of an inch), one inch being equal to approximately 2.54 centimetres.