The rope guide has been modified so that the 7th rope now falls better in the rope circle. Previously it was somewhat closer to the window and the ringer of the 7th had to have their heels on a rather uneven part of the window sill at floor level.
This also makes room for a seating area in the window.
The 6th (left) and 7th (right) now have ceiling bosses as well.
You can see on the right of this photo, against the wall, one of the square rope chutes from the original medieval installation. There's another square hole (minus the chute) to the left of the 6th rope. The larger square hole that's covered up on the far left is another interesting feature as it was for the weights of a church clock which is long gone.
The positions of these holes, and three more in other places, give a clue to the number of bells (5) and the layout of the frame as originally installed.
We do know that in 1552 there were just 3 bells which came from Bordesley Abbey which had been dissolved in 1538. About 10 years prior to the 1552 date, the bells which had been in the tower were sold to pay for new pews in the church.
We do know that in 1552 there were just 3 bells which came from Bordesley Abbey which had been dissolved in 1538. About 10 years prior to the 1552 date, the bells which had been in the tower were sold to pay for new pews in the church.
These c1540 pews still exist, but the Bordesley Abbey bells don't, since in 1704/5 five new bells were cast in Gloucester by Abraham Rudhall I, and the frame rotated 45 degrees.
Here's a reminder of the current frame layout.
Diagonal frames are fairly unusual, other local examples are at Powick (also 1705) and Croome D'Abitot on the NT Croome Estate just up the road. There's also another nice example at Brailsford in Derbyshire, also by Rudhall in 1717.
