WOTTON BRANCH BELLRINGERS
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DURSLEY, ST JAMES THE GREAT

The story of Dursley’s Steeple

In 1698, a dramatic event occurred when the steeple collapsed, unfortunately killing some of the bellringers who were inside. The cost of replacement was estimated to be around £2000, out of reach of the parish so a national appeal was started. An approach was made to King William III for his support:

Dursley in Count: Glouensis

29th Martii 1699

To the King’s most Excellent Majestie
The Humble Petition of the inhabitants of youre Towne of Dursley in youre County of Gloucestershire.

Showeth unto youre Maty. On Satturday the seventh day of Janyuary last past the Tower and spire steeple of the parish Church of Dursley aforesaid with the Ring of Bells therein by casualty and great mischance fell downe and broke part of the west end of the said Church the damage whereof and charge of rebuilding the said tower and repairing the said Church is estimated by workmen to amount unto one Thousand Nyne Hundred and Nynety Five Pounds at least. And youre petitioners shew unto yre. Matie. that the said Towne and Parish is very small the whole yearly vallues of all the lands of the said Parish not exceeding six hundred pounds by estimation and that greatly burthen’d with Numbers of Poore which take up a Fourth at least of the yearly vallue of the said Parish. Whereby youre Petitioners are unable to bear the great charge aforesaid of rebuilding the said Tower and repairinge the Church without some Charitable assistance.

Wherefore youre Petitioners Humbly beseech yre. Mate. To grant your Petitioners your Gradious Letters Patent to ask, gather and receive the charitable benovlence of youre Majestie’s loving subjects towards the great charge and Pious worke aforesaid.

And yre. Petitrs. in Duty bound hall ever pray etc.

Signed by: Maurice Phillips, Bayliff

John Arundell John Awood William Litton
John Tippetts Saml. King Joseph Pulley
Thomas King John Webb Thomas Phelps
Isaac SmithJno. Arundell Junr. Thomas Purnell
John Partridge Saml. Clarke Nicholas Neale
Abraham Stiff Joseph Dallimore James Harding
William Danford Morris Phillips Richard Tippetts
Ab. Baker Thomas Fryer John Purnell

It wasn’t to be for several years however, in 1707 during the reign of Queen Anne, before the tower was rebuilt. Due to the high costs involved, the steeple was never replaced.
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  • Home & list of towers
    • Towers (Berkeley - North Nibley) >
      • BERKELEY, ST MARY THE VIRGIN >
        • BERKELEY QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • CHIPPING SODBURY, ST JOHN THE BAPTIST >
        • CHIPPING SODBURY QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • COALEY, ST BARTHOLOMEW >
        • COALEY QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • CROMHALL, ST ANDREW >
        • CROMHALL QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • DURSLEY, ST JAMES THE GREAT >
        • DURSLEY QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • GREAT BADMINTON, ST MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS
      • HORTON, ST JAMES THE ELDER >
        • HORTON QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • NORTH NIBLEY, ST MARTIN >
        • NORTH NIBLEY QUARTER PEALS 2011
    • Towers (Slimbridge - Yate) >
      • SLIMBRIDGE, ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST >
        • SLIMBRIDGE QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • STINCHCOMBE, ST CYR >
        • STINCHCOMBE QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • STONE, ALL SAINTS'
      • TORTWORTH, ST LEONARD >
        • TORTWORTH QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • UPPER CAM. ST GEORGE >
        • UPPER CAM QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • WICKWAR, HOLY TRINITY >
        • WICKWAR QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE, ST MARY THE VIRGIN >
        • WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE QUARTER PEALS 2011
      • YATE, ST MARY
  • Branch Cententary 2010
    • BRANCH DINNER 2010
    • Centenary Peals 2010
  • Ringing Links
  • The Story of William Champion of Dursley
  • WOOTTON UNDER EDGE STRIKING COMPETITION 1816
  • WW1 Branch Ringers
    • List of Branch Members killed in WW1
    • Pte Percy Woodward
    • Pte Nelson Griffin
    • Pte William Francis Hawkins
    • Sapper Joseph Warner
    • Quarters rung
    • Rolls of Honour