Cradley Church, An Historical Tour

The tower ringing chamber

A most unusual feature is the insertion of timber-framed inner walls on the north and south sides of the lower stage of the tower (the photo shows a section of the inner construction of these walls). At one time it was suggested that they were probably of 17th century date and inserted to stiffen the structure. More recently, expert opinion is that they are from before 1530 on account of the sawing technique used. Their purpose remains unclear, although it maybe that they were erected to give extra strength to the stone north and south walls. This inner frame creates two voids between the stone outside wall and the inner frame on the north and south sides.

Beneath the window on the west wall is an old, possibly 15th Century pew. This originally would have stood alongside a nave wall at a time when most of the congregation would have stood or knelt on the floor, so giving rise to the old saying “The weakest go to the wall.”

On the inner south wall sits a rhyming placard dated 1795 indicating the fines that bell-ringers had to pay if they did not follow the rules. Six pence seemed to be the standard fine, but the ultimate was beer for all the ringers!

Inside the void on the north side is the mechanism which drives the clock faces on the north and south walls of the tower. The clock was paid for by parishioners in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the First World War. It is driven by two large weights which are wound to the top of the tower; they then provide energy to the clock as they gradually drop to the base of the tower.

The tower ringing chamber

The tower ringing chamber map