Clock Chimes Repaired

The clock chimes have been out of action for over a year. The wheel of the treble bell struck one of the clock hammers which became bent in the process. We were lucky that the failure occured when we had just started to raise the bell bacause a bell turing full circle could have been severely damaged had it occured at that time. The hammer had to be removed so that we could continue to ring the bells.

Part of the cause was the poor condition of the clock wires which were in need of constant attention to adjust them correctly. They would occasionally need to be replaced. Even with all the clock wires in place the tunes did not play accurately. This was due to the levers which actuate the hammers being worn down. Some of the tunes were unrecognisable!

The bent hammer episode prompted more serious action! The PCC was consulted and it was decided to have the chiming aparatus inspected with a view to straightening the clock hammer, refurbishing the levers and replacing all the wires.

The expert advice and a quotation for the work was sought from The Cumbria Clock Company (CCC) who have carried out several minor repairs to the clock over the years. The amount required was considerable and the PCC could not afford or justify the expense given other priorities. However, the chiming apparatus, believed to date originally from 1683 and re-modelled in 1757 is unique and has national heritage value. It arrived in the tower with the clock, and both have been running contiunuously for over 340 years. Together they are of historic interest to the church and community.

Various sources of grant aid were investigated and the PCC received subsantial help from Church Care and a local charity, the Poors Land Charity. This amounted to two thirds of the total required, the balance being met by the PCC.

The work required the lever bar to be refurbished and re-fitted with new 3mm stainless steel wires with turnbuckle adjustments fitted to each hammer, twelve in all. All bell cranks were checked and one on the hour chime re-secured having become dislodged. The catenary runs along the floor of the belfry rather than the ceiling of the clock room, making work on replacing the wires much easier.

One problem encounterd was to make the hammers pull far enough away from the bells to avoid fowling the bell wheels and ropes. This necessitaed a return visit by CCC which added to the delay in completing the job, but was finally done on Thursday 29th January 2025.

On completion each of the five tunes was tested and found to be most satisfactory. Recordings have been made and will be uploaded to YouTube in due course.

Our thanks to CCC for their consultation and executing a really good job!

The video below shows the clock chiming twelve noon and triggering the chiming apparatus which plays the tune Nehemiah.