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| tempus275 Quote | Reply | | Heanor's tower clock posted on: 12/27/2006 11:13:42 AM Before I start - Happy New Year everyone! - I know if I don't say it now I will forget. Does anyone know much about the clock? Do we know if any of the "old" clock winders are still alive? With the recent problems with the clock it's meant I've had to take a far closer look at the mechanism rather than just winding it - apologies to the town about the South side, with the South side being jammed I've had to disconnect the dial in order for rest of the clock to work. The chimes are currently off as I don't know whether the bell ringers have left the bells in the down position and can't turn the chimes on without being sure the bells are down. Not been able to gather much information so far from the archives held at the church. I do know the the first mention of a clock in the tower is 1647 when it was agreed that John Dale the clerk would be paid 7s 4d to "set and keep the church clock". The first clock was a skeleton dial on the South side. Later the clock or just the dial was replaced as the dial becomes a wood dimond one - for a surviving one see St Nic's in Notts (http://www.nottshistory.org.uk/articles/tts/tts1929/itinerary1929p7.htm) The current clock is from 1880 and was made by Smiths of Derby. It is supposed to be one of (if not the) first Smith turret clocks with Westminster chimes, however I have seen notes that in 1902 when the bells were increased to to eight and rehung that they installed chimes - as to whether this means they just changed the chime mechanism or whether it was the first install I haven't found proof either way. Some time in the late 70's I believe the Rotary club paid for the Chimes to be automated - basically turning that part of the mechanism to being powered by an electric motor rather than weights, whilst keeping the main clock weight driven. Then I think it was late 80's early 90's the clock had to be turned off for a while as some of the gears were close to giving out and had to be replaced. Anyone know any further information? I believe that there was a newpaper article with the history of the clock (how much detail it goes into I'm not sure - around 1900?) sadly the church copy is with Matlock archives and has the usual problem of waiting for the form to request a photocopy. Would be very interested to know if any of the clockwinders survive, there are interesting bits of graffiti on the inside of the clock cabinet and would be interested to know who put them there - my favorate being the VE day one. As there has been a request for a photo tour of the tower I should be doing a new thread with the images soon, will include the clock room and the graffiti but need to wait for some repairs to the clock first. |
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tempus275
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Heanor's tower clock
replied on: 12/27/2006 5:58:00 PM 2001 - Church stopped for a while after its annual service / inspection showed that the escape wheel had a tooth loose and close to fracturing. |
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tempus275
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Heanor's tower clock
replied on: 12/29/2006 10:02:21 AM The St Lawrence website (subject to approval) should be launched early in the new year. Whilst it will have quite a strong historical section it should not be a rival to the Heanor History site as it will concentrate on the churches website, and occasionally how this impacted the community. Does anyone have any objection to any information they found/find that was about the church being used? It will usually be in the "timeline" section, though for some sections like Jennypegs wonderful ability to find newspaper arcticles they may feature in other sections - for example stained glass. Also would people want credit giving to their "online name" - ie Jennypeg, or their real name? |
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RMMee
Moderator Quote | Reply | |
Heanor's tower clock
replied on: 12/29/2006 10:33:29 AM You can use anything of mine, and my user name is my real name! I hope there will be a link to the Society's website - I will certainly be adding a link to the church's site from ours. Happy New Year! Robert |
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Jennypeg
Researcher Quote | Reply | This message was updated on 12/29/2006 3:45:17 PM by Jennypeg |
Heanor's tower clock
replied on: 12/29/2006 12:29:13 PM this has moved to the right place I hope. Jenny |
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