St Peter & St Paul Parish Church of Blockley Gloucestershire

The village of Blockley is located in the northern part of the County in the Cotswold Hills an area of outstanding natural beauty The village and church feature in the long running TV series Father Brown which are based on the books written by G K Chesterton

 

The church dates from the late 12th century and has had many renovations and
additions through several centuries. The tower dates from 1725, and is probably a
later build after the earlier tower was demolished. 
It was first Listed a Grade ll* building, in August 1960.



The heating system in the church was another exciting historic discovery for the Heritage Group as it is rare to
find a cast iron pipework distribution system with its original box-ended pipe coil heaters, that was installed
during the Victorian period still in operation.
 
Sadly the name of the installer is not displayed on the pipework. The heating system remains
of historic and engineering heritage value.


The original LPHW open type heating system was designed as a single loop cast iron double pipe coil arrangement with 3 - box-ended
pipe coil heaters sited against the end of each block of pews. Double pipe coils are installed against both the outside walls. 

Note the special fabricated timber brackets acting as supports and spacers for the cast iron pipework.	These lengths of cast iron pipework are connected together with either socket & spigot couplings or flexible couplings with tie bars.

BOX-ENDED PIPE COIL HEATERS

It is interesting to note how this heater had to be assembled in two sections to accommodate the right angle bends feeding the flow and return connections to the heater

The flow & return pipe connections feeding this heater are connected into the box-end header on the right hand side.

To accommodate the closeness of the flow & return pipes dropping into the floor duct special fabricated cast iron 90deg box shaped bends had to be fitted to the bottom pipe.  This arrangement made it necessary for the heater to be manufactured and assembled in two sections. The four cast iron straight bolted couplings with tie bars allowed this, although they did nothing to enhance the appearance of the heater.

 

Another interesting feature of the heating system was the open vent pipe connected to the top of the pipe coil at the Tower end of the Church

The vent pipe when viewed outside has been extended much higher up the wall. The pipe was most likely extended when the heating system had a pump fitted.

South Porch added 1630

On the external wall of the south porch above the sun dial is an inscription commemorating the two churchwardens at the time the porch was built. WILLIAM DIDE               & THOMAS WIDDOWE dated ANNOD 1630 Whether both these Churchwardens were builders and assisted in the erection of the porch is a possible reason for their names  to be displayed

Another unusual feature is the wide special fabricated lead rain water hoppers offset to match the outlet position to the vertical downpipe

It is most likely that the hopper offset was necessary due to the later rebuild of the Chancel roof.