Lancaster Priory’s historic clock which has marked time for locals and visitors alike since 1886 is being restored to its former glory.
Probably for the first time in its life the entire mechanism, which has been threatened by chronic water leaks, has been dismantled and will be cleaned and restored as part of almost £300,000 worth of repairs to the clock tower.
The work has only been made possible thanks to a grant from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help heritage organisations through the coronavirus pandemic.
The vital repairs are being carried out by Cumbria Clock Company which has previously worked on the country’s oldest clock in Salisbury Cathedral, the nation’s largest clock dials on Liverpool’s Royal Liver Building, and even Big Ben.
Keith Scobie-Youngs, Cumbria Clock Company director, said: “Lancaster Priory is lucky to have such a wonderful clock mechanism. Once our work is completed, this impressive machine will be a perfect servant to Lancaster for the next 140 years.”
The Vicar of Lancaster, Canon Chris Newlands, has described the clock as part of the warp and weft of the city.
It is said to be the best example in the UK of the workmanship of Lund and Blockley of London who were retailers of fine quality watches and manufacturers of house and turret clocks. Among their customers was Queen Victoria.
It’s thought that the Priory’s is one of only three turret clocks of its kind left in the world, the others being in South Africa and Australia. Until 1983, when an electric drive was fitted, the clock was wound up manually.
The Priory clock is special in many other ways. Its chimes are unique and possibly composed by the choirmaster at the time.
Also, in the clock room, is a change ring machine dating from around 1950, the only example of its type presently known to exist. It was probably used when bell ringers weren’t available for church services or ceremonies.
When the clock’s mechanism was being dismantled, it was laid out in the church for a couple of days for visitors to see. It will be cleaned and restored at workshops near Penrith over the next two months and in January, workers will abseil down the tower to remove the remaining hands. Everything will be back in position by March.
The reverse of one of the clock’s hands already recovered revealed a hidden inscription written in 1991, during a previous repair, to mark the release of Anglican Church envoy, Terry Waite after more than four years in captivity in Beirut.
Canon Newlands has sent news of this secret part of the Priory’s history to the Archbishop of Canterbury in the hope that he will share it with Terry.
A film about the clock’s restoration is now available on Lancaster Priory’s Facebook page: @lancasterpriorymusic
Musician takes centre stage at Chelsea Flower Show with songs about Morecambe
Lancaster bridge reopens after police incident
LISTEN: New relaxed group for adults with ADHD formed in Lancaster
Greens win city council by-election in Lancaster
Morecambe woman to star in dramatic new TV reality quiz show with Danny Dyer and Emily Atack
Excitement as The Bay returns to Morecambe for filming of new series
Lancaster University lecturer pens episode of popular CBeebies TV programme
Young Morecambe change makers invited to Westminster
Heysham power station team leads large-scale community litter pick
Body found in Lancaster park in search for missing local man
PHOTOS: Eden Project Morecambe garden wins award on star-studded day at Chelsea Flower Show
Over 50s ‘youth club’ in Morecambe reduces hours due to ‘lack of footfall’
Under threat Lancaster day centre will remain open
'Look for a Book' event returns to Lancaster and Morecambe
Operation Sceptre tackles knife crime across Lancaster district
Eden Project Morecambe will become a ‘theatre of science like nowhere else on earth’
‘True local’ begins his year as mayor of Lancaster
Lancaster University research shows care home falls cut by a third with use of smart lights
Angela Rippon and ‘Eric and Little Ern’ launch Bring Me Sunshine Garden at Chelsea Flower Show
Talk and trail celebrating life of city’s groundbreaking inventor will mark Lancaster Day
