Handbells bring Christmas cheer
The tradition of handbell-ringing round Steeple Aston brings Christmas cheer every year: we do not know of another parish which does this. There are now 15 ringers taking part, including an encouraging number of youngsters. However, the origin of the village handbells is an interesting story.
Gabriel Jordan (photo below from the 1930s) dressed here in his Sunday best with well-polished boots, lived at Oakridge, Cow Lane with sisters Edie, Annie and the youngest, Janet, who many will remember. The whole family worked at the Co-op on Southside. One day in the early 1950s Gabriel invited Harry Adams (the Steeple Aston tower captain) into his shed and Harry spotted a set of 12 handbells.
Gabriel Jordan (photo below from the 1930s) dressed here in his Sunday best with well-polished boots, lived at Oakridge, Cow Lane with sisters Edie, Annie and the youngest, Janet, who many will remember. The whole family worked at the Co-op on Southside. One day in the early 1950s Gabriel invited Harry Adams (the Steeple Aston tower captain) into his shed and Harry spotted a set of 12 handbells.
Old Mr Jordan had been a keen bellringer. The bells were in a very poor state and much restorative effort ensued including replacing all the leather work. These 12 bells form the core of the handbells used today in Steeple Aston. We do not know their age- possibly circa 1900, but they are made of the same alloy of copper and tin as the church bells, and range from the
F below middle C to the C above it.
In the 1960s the team bought 3 additional bells, two which enable a change of key and the high D required for the majority of carols. Since then many generous parishioners have bought extra bells which have been inscribed. For example: The Steel family, Little Lee, and a few bought by the bellringers as a commemoration- such as the C# for Canon Michael Hayter, Rector from 1937 to 1980.
Perhaps there are more undiscovered handbells lurking in sheds. Some have disappeared altogether, as have the bells of Lower Heyford.
F below middle C to the C above it.
In the 1960s the team bought 3 additional bells, two which enable a change of key and the high D required for the majority of carols. Since then many generous parishioners have bought extra bells which have been inscribed. For example: The Steel family, Little Lee, and a few bought by the bellringers as a commemoration- such as the C# for Canon Michael Hayter, Rector from 1937 to 1980.
Perhaps there are more undiscovered handbells lurking in sheds. Some have disappeared altogether, as have the bells of Lower Heyford.
New booklet and CD on the development of the villages
A full listing of every building in Steeple and Middle Aston has been compiled, with photographs and notes, and dates of origin. Shortly to be published on CD, the Gazetteer accompanies a new publication in booklet form of SAVA's exhibition of 2010 entitled "The Development of Steeple and Middle Aston". The booklet tells the story of houses in the villages from the earliest known to the latest developments, explaining the architectural styles and construction techniques that characterise our homes. The booklet covers C20th estates and individual private houses as well as the more historic ones, the earliest of which dates to the C15th.
Available together or separately: OUT NOW! to place your order click here. |
House detectives in Steeple Aston
Observant villagers may have noticed over the last few months a few possibly familiar-looking people entering houses in the village and coming out an hour later excitedly talking about loose tenons, parapets and chamfered beams. SAVA has been fortunate in having Paul Clark, a historic buildings expert from the Oxfordshire Buildings Record, join a small group that has been researching house history in Steeple Aston.
So far, we have inspected and produced short reports on about ten houses, kindly made available for an hour or two by owners keen to understand more about their homes.
Things are not always what they seem: some houses show clear evidence that their origins go back perhaps 100 years prior to the date their owners had assumed. For example, it was common in the C18th for houses to be refronted in order to match current fashions for symmetry, larger windows and often additional bedrooms. Concealed behind the Georgian front elevation though can be a C17th dwelling with construction timber jointed and arranged in a way that had died out 100 years later. Several houses we have seen in the village were originally thatched and had steeper pitches than they now have, but close inspection reveals the story. It can sometimes be linked to changes of ownership in the written records associated with the dwelling.
If you would like us to arrange a visit, please contact SAVA (see the "Contact Us" tab)
So far, we have inspected and produced short reports on about ten houses, kindly made available for an hour or two by owners keen to understand more about their homes.
Things are not always what they seem: some houses show clear evidence that their origins go back perhaps 100 years prior to the date their owners had assumed. For example, it was common in the C18th for houses to be refronted in order to match current fashions for symmetry, larger windows and often additional bedrooms. Concealed behind the Georgian front elevation though can be a C17th dwelling with construction timber jointed and arranged in a way that had died out 100 years later. Several houses we have seen in the village were originally thatched and had steeper pitches than they now have, but close inspection reveals the story. It can sometimes be linked to changes of ownership in the written records associated with the dwelling.
If you would like us to arrange a visit, please contact SAVA (see the "Contact Us" tab)
