The Bell Tower

The wooden Bell Tower was built about 1500 and is probably the finest wooden framed tower in this part of the country.

This was considered to be the best architectural feature of the church and the rebuilding was planned so that the tower should remain the best known landmark of Yateley. The brick infill between the timbers at the base of the tower dates from the 1878 restoration. The timber framing of the tower did not suffer much from the fire because the charring of the surface prevented the fire taking a hold. The fire did reveal severe damage caused by death watch beetle, which has now been treated and is kept under surveillance. In addition the tower had to be strengthened for a ring of eight bells, as it was originally built for only three. The repair of the timber frame was carried out using a combination of English oak and steel. The roof had to be taken down and was rebuilt on the ground by a team of three parishioners. In the 1878 restoration the west door (or tower door) was intended to be the main entrance, so the font was moved into the tower (the old custom is to have the font near the main entrance), and the bell ringers moved upstairs. A few years later they came down again and a screen was fitted into the arch, which has now been replaced by a new doorway. The only stained glass window to survive is the one in the tower, given in memory of Mr. Sumner, who was Vicar at the time of the 1878 restoration. Along the north and south sides of the tower are the medieval brasses which were moved here from the chancel in 1878.

We had a ring of eight bells, the oldest being cast in 1577. They were cracked in the fire, but have been recast with their original inscriptions by Taylor's of Loughborough, using metal from the old bells.

The clock was made in about 1600, the face came from Wokingham Town Hall in 1878. The mechanism was restored in the early 1980's, and an automatic winding system was installed in the late 1980's. Unfortunately, the clock has now failed, and there are no longer the skills to repair it economically.