Leckhampton Bellringers 1904

Leckhampton Parish Church

Leckhampton Bellringers 1904
Standing, L to R:W Townsend, W Harrison, Arthur Caudle, Jack Shill, Alfred Pratt (Fred), Noah Newton. Alfred Hunt (always called Richard).
Seated:William Harley, Tom Hunt.

In the ‘clock room’ below the belfry is an old photograph of St Peter’s bellringers, posing with a set of handbells in front of the west door. The photograph, in a frame made from an old bell wheel, was presented by W Harrison, who also owned the handbells and identified the ringers – mostly with good old Leckhampton surnames.

The date is given as ‘about 1904’, in which year the bells underwent a major restoration, and for a time the ringers would have had only the handbells at their disposal. The absence of carving on either side of the door means that it had to be before mid-1907 which is when it was added. Today the carved foliage and especially the heads of a bishop and king are badly weathered. If when visiting the church you look at the window immediately above the door, you will see two cubes of plain stone still waiting to be worked on – suggestions to the vicar!