St Nicholas' Church, Piddington
Bells
Bell
Treble
Second
Third
Fourth
Tenor
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Inscription
THE GIFT OF MRS. CHARLES BROWN /
JUBILEE 1887 / REV. THOMAS IVENS VICAR / LLEWELINS & JAMES / BRISTOL THE GIFT OF MRS. CHARLES BROWN / JUBILEE 1887 / F.WHITE & SONS BELLHANGERS APPLETON / THOMAS BROWN / THOMAS MAY CHURCHWARDENS / LLEWELINS & JAMES / BRISTOL THIS BELL WAS RECAST AND THE WHOLE PEAL [sic] REHUNG / AT THE EXPENSE OF MRS. CHARLES BROWN / IN THE JUBILEE YEAR OF QUEEN VICTORIA / 1887 / LLEWELINS & JAMES / BRISTOL BENEDICTA SIT SANCTA TRITITAS (Fig P5 six times) / JOHN WALKER, JOHN LOWE, CHURCHWARDENS, 1738. ED: HEMINS FECIT (Fig N9) WILLIAM : SHAW : JOHN, HONOR. CHURCH WARDENS (Fig P5 four times) / EDWARD : HEMINS, BISSITER, FECIT 1738 (Fig P5 six times) |
Approximate weight (cwt)
4
4.5 5 6 8 |
The three smallest bells were cast at the Bristol foundry; the two largest at the Bicester foundry. The treble and second were added to the ring in 1887. You can read more about the Bicester bell foundry here.
The bells hang in a sixteenth-century type frame, originally made with pits for four bells. Although there were only three bells in the tower before 1887 the frame had contained four at some time. The gear, type C, is by Messrs. F. White and Sons, who added one additional pit to the frame.
The bells hang in a sixteenth-century type frame, originally made with pits for four bells. Although there were only three bells in the tower before 1887 the frame had contained four at some time. The gear, type C, is by Messrs. F. White and Sons, who added one additional pit to the frame.
Bellframe wheel, top view
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Bellframe wheel, corner view
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The predecessor of the third, which before 1887 was the treble of the old ring of three bells, was cast at the Drayton Parslow foundry, and, like the former bells at Launton, bore the date 1701.*
6 Edw. VI states: Item 3 smale belles in the steple. Item a scantis [sic] bell and 2 hand belles.
Visited: F.S., 1923–1951
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*Note by the Rev. T. A. Turner, circa 1880. Walters' MS., Society of Antiquaries Library.
6 Edw. VI states: Item 3 smale belles in the steple. Item a scantis [sic] bell and 2 hand belles.
Visited: F.S., 1923–1951
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*Note by the Rev. T. A. Turner, circa 1880. Walters' MS., Society of Antiquaries Library.
Source
Sharpe, F. (1954) The Church Bells of Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire Record Society.
Listen to the bells
To hear the bells of St Nicholas, Piddington, being rung, go to the 'Piddington on Film' page, where there are several videos.
The Piddington Bellringers
The Piddington church bells are rung regularly by an enthusiastic group of bellringers. We welcome new members. Anyone interested in taking part can telephone Morwen on 01844 238510 for further information.
Below are some photos of the Piddington bellringing team.
Below are some photos of the Piddington bellringing team.
The Piddington bellringing team, June 2016 (left to right): Chris Taylor, Wendy Taylor, Morwen Ashton, Tony Pearce (captain), Cheryl Coggins, Pam Newell and Rachel Pennington.
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The Piddington bellringing team, June 2017 (left to right): Chris Taylor, Morwen Ashton, Pam Newell, Cheryl Coggins, Rachel Pennington and Tony Pearce (captain).
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Ringing for Remembrance, 11 November 2018. Photo: Maggie Pearce
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Piddington Bellringers rang three half muffled bells and observed one minute's silence in honour of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, St. Nicholas Church, Piddington, Oxfordshire, 17th April 2021. (L to R): Cheryl Coggins, Phil Jones, Morwen Ashton (captain).
Photo: Tiz Ashton
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Remembrance Day, 14 November 2021. (L to R) Shirley Grant, Cheryl Coggins,
Phil Jones and Morwen Ashton (captain)
Piddington Bellringers rang all five bells for the Coronation of King Charles III, 6 May 2023, St. Nicholas Church, Piddington, Oxfordshire, 6 May 2023.
Photo: Mike Ashton
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Piddington Bellringers rang muffled bells and observed two minutes silence to mark the Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, St. Nicholas Church, Piddington, Oxfordshire, 19 September 2022. (L to R) Cheryl Coggins, Morwen Ashton, Shirley Grant and Phil Jones.
Photo: Tiz Ashton
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World War I aeroplane propeller
The ‘cross-like’ memorial in the belfry (in the background in the photo above) is actually a cut down WW1 aeroplane propeller, dedicated to the memory of Lieutenant Richard Stone (known as Stoney to his friends). Lieutenant Stone was killed in action in France on the 9th August 1918. He was 19 years old. Read more about Lieutenant Richard Stone here.