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History
of the Clock
The clock at St
Nicholas Church was made by a local clockmaker, Simmons of Warwick and is
dated 1865. This is clearly cast into the frame of the clock,
proving the originator. It was originally installed to drive three
dials, one north, one south and one west. At the clock pilot setting
dial, there is a later addition of a vertical lead off driving downwards
to the bell ringers' room and under the ceiling. Flat to the
ceiling, is a clock face with minutes only, dated and inscribed as GB
Fraser 1876. This is almost certainly to allow the bell ringers
to carefully time the change ringing. This is a rare addition. |
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The clock is a
ding dong quarter and sounds on bells in the belfry above. The
movement is mounted on an inverted u-shaped cast iron frame. There
are only two such clocks in the country, the other being in Bassingham,
Lincolnshire. |
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Auto-winding the Clock Project
Until the end of
2006, the clock was
manually wound twice weekly by one of our bell ringers, who had to climb
up into the belfry to turn the winding gears. On Sundays, the two chiming drums
were wound for a total of
126 turns and the clock, 27 turns. On Tuesdays, the two chiming
drums were wound for a total of 63 turns and the clock 9. The lead
weights for the two chiming drums could not be
manually lifted by two people.
Auto-winding the clock removed the necessity of climbing
into the belfry, which became a health and safety issue. The clock only
requires occasional attention for minor adjustments. The cost of
automating the winding was £4,875; funds were raised by the bell ringers
and others in a variety of different ways during 2006 and the works were
completed early in 2007. |
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Copyright
© 2002-2008 St Nicholas Church Kenilworth
Website
built and maintained by
- this page was updated on
05 April 2008
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