Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers- Appleton Balscote Ring

Established January 17 1881

Balscote Ring, Appleton, Oxon
Old North Berks branch of the ODG

Balscote Ring, Appleton workshop ©KMC 1 Mar 2003

Dedication: None this is the private Balscote Ring, Appleton

Tower Correspondent: Brian White at Whites of Appleton

> Availability and Restrictions: Minimum of 6 weeks notice is required for applications to ring the Bells.

The Bells (18) 1-2-16 in B^b last restored 1997. Private Ring without stays or sliders.

Draught: 2.75metres, (9' 0")
Audibility: 3 - (On a scale of 1 to 5, 1=faint 5=very loud)

Access to ringing chamber: Ground floor in single story extension on right of White's Workshop

Info taken from Nov 2001 issue of the ONB newsletter, also published in RW 4500 p752

The featured tower this time is the newest ring of bells in the branch, newest that is in terms of the date of their installation in their present home.

The Bells started off their life as a ring of 6, cast in 1951/52? by Gillett and Johnston for Mr and Mrs Charles Jarvis and their daughter Beryl. The Bells were hung by Mr Jarvis at Home Farm, Balscote, near Banbury. They were then the lightest ring of six in the county. The tenor was 17½" diameter in C and weighed 1cwt 0qrs 22 lb.

A number of augmentations followed, as well as a change of home for Mr Jarvis, where eventually they formed the basis of a ring of 10 with numerous semitones to provide various combinations of rings of 5,6,8 & 10. In 1987 Charles Jarvis moved away from Balscote to live with his daughter in Somerset, the bells went with him but were never hung. Following his death the bells were purchased by the Bell-Hanger, Brian White, and were rehung in the workshop at Appleton. In 1997 two treble bells were added to complete a ring of twelve. By November 2001 four peals had been rung on the bells in their new home, one each of Plain Bob Major, Stedman Caters, Cambridge Surprise Maximus & Yorkshire Surprise Maximus.

The Balscote Ring, hung without stays, at Whites of Appleton ©KMC 4 Nov 2000

A ring of 12 ; tenor 1-2-14 tuned to B^b

Bell	Weight cwt-qr-lb	Strike note	Date cast	Founder
Treble	0-1-18	F	1997	Whitechapel
Sharp 2	0-1-6	E	1969	Mears & Stainbank
2	0-1-6	E^b	1997	Whitechapel
3	0-1-6	D	1958	Mears & Stainbank
Sharp 4	0-1-6	C^#	1964	Mears & Stainbank
4	0-1-6	C	1958	Mears & Stainbank
Sharp 5	0-1-13	B	1963	Mears & Stainbank
5	0-1-14	B^b	1957	Gillett & Johnston
6	0-1-14	A	1963	Mears & Stainbank
7	0-2-0	G	1952	Gillett & Johnston
Sharp 8	0-2-9	F^#	1963	Mears & Stainbank
8	0-2-14	F	1952	Gillett & Johnston
Sharp 9	0-3-7	E	1952	Gillett & Johnston
9	0-2-25	E^b	1958	Mears & Stainbank
10	1-0-0	D	1952	Gillett & Johnston
11	1-0-20	C	1952	Gillett & Johnston
Tenor	1-2-14	B^b	1958	Mears & Stainbank

The following bell is not hung but is available for use.

Sharp 7

0-2-9

G^#

1957

Gillett & Johnston

If you want to arrange to ring on the only twelve in the branch then you should contact Brian White of Whites of Appleton Ltd. The Bells are in his workshop; he prefers to keep the door shut so that little noise gets out to the neighbours. They are very light and most people prefer to ring with just one hand for each stroke. Some people still prefer to ring in the usual fashion with both hands on the sally and tail end. There are no stays or sliders.

Facilities: Toilet toilet

Travel Details: OS Grid Ref: SP444018. Parking is limited at the workshop, please enquire availability when making arrangements to ring and avoid parking on neighbours mown verges. It may be better to park in Church Road, near the school and walk round to the workshop.

Eating Places: nearest pubs are: ‘The Plough’ 450 yards or‘The Thatched Tavern’ 80 yards

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