Minster clock re-gilding
[Photo: Steve Rial]
Early in June the Cumbria Clock Company will be starting work to restore the clock face.
The Friends approved spending on this some time ago but the project was delayed by the pandemic.
This contribution to the website provides some basic information on what is involved and touches on the history of the clock. I am indebted to Mike Robson for the information: Mike knows so much about all that is in – and goes on within – the towers (both mechanical and in terms of people) and he will be on site during the restoration to answer questions from the public. We hope this will be a good opportunity to recruit more Friends – as people abseiling up and around the clock face should attract much interest.
An earlier Minster clock was made by the famous clockmaker Harrison. It played nine tunes in a complicated rotation and must have been quite something to hear. But when new bells were installed in the early years of the twentieth century the clock was not strong enough to drive the hammers for the new bells.
The current clock was installed in 1902.