ABINGDON BELLS: Tower & Spire3 THE TOWER AND SPIRE: History and description
3.1 The tower stands at the main entrance to the church, at the north-east corner of the building. The east wall abuts the street and there is a paved area by the main door. The lower stages of the tower include Early English of the 13th century to the level of the lancet windows in the belfry stage. A spire (since rebuilt) was added in the fourteenth century in the Decorated style and the present tower parapet and pinnacles are Perpendicular work of the fifteenth century. It is recorded that the spire was repaired in 1625. The tower has some angle buttresses to the belfry stage and there is a projecting stair turret in the south-west corner. At an early date - maybe in the seventeenth century - the top stage has been strengthened by the insertion of wooden tie beams, the ends of which are visible as S-plates outside.
3.2 A partial restoration of the spire took place in 1856-7 under the architect George Edmund Street (1824-81). By 1885 (and not 1888 as given in some published sources), however, a complete rebuilding of the spire was required. This was carried out under the architect John Oldrid Scott (1841-1913), the second son of Sir George Gilbert Scott. This is recorded on a commemorative tablet in the porch (i.e. in the base of tower) inscribed:
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
THIS SPIRE WAS REBUILT
AD 1885 AND IN MEMORY OF
GEORGE LOUIS MONCK GIBBS
BORN AT CLIFTON HAMPDEN
APRIL 28 AD 1838 LAID TO
REST IN THE CHURCHYARD OF
THAT PARISH
DECEMBER 1 AD 1881
REQUIESCAT IN PACE
It will be noted that the restoration of the bells - and the addition of two new ones to make a ring of ten - was undertaken soon after the rebuilding of the spire.
3.3 Key dates in the history of the tower and spire are therefore as follows:
C13th Erection of lower stages of the tower in the Early English style C14th Addition of the original spire in the Decorated style C15th Remodelling of the tower parapet and pinnacles 1625 Repairs to the spire 1856-7 Repairs to the spire by G.E. Street 1885 Repairs to the spire under John Oldrid Scott in 1885 1986 Further work on the tower and spire in a programme of restoration work on the church exterior 2003 Stonework repairs to the lower part of the spire including renewal of the string course - cost £60,000 2006 Remedial work to the timber tie-rods at the base of the spire at a cost of £16,000
© Copyright 2006, Chris Pickford