As part of the major restoration that our church tower is currently undergoing, the clock has been removed and taken away to be fully restored.

This will involve not just the bits we will all see (a re-painted and guilded face and hands), but, probably more importantly a full overhaul and restoration of the clock mechanism.

The first job was to remove the face and hands...

The first job was to remove the clock's face and hands

Once down onto the scaffolding, the next job was lower it to the ground...

Face and hands removed and resting on scaffolding

A simple rope and pulley was all that was needed...

Clock face being lowered to the ground

The clock face (and hands) safely down to the ground...

Clock face and hands safely down to the ground

Leant against the skip, the clock's face and hands look much bigger than they do in their normal position...

Propped up against the skip, the clock face reveals it's true size

The hands of time in all their faded glory...

The hands of time in all their faded glory

Next, the clock mechanism had to be dismantled...

Dismantling the clock mechanism

All of the components had to be removed from the 'bird cage' frame...

Lots of bits removed - this is one of the main drive shafts

A complex array of parts were removed, all in need of serious amounts of TLC...

A complex array of parts were, all in need of serious amounts of TLC...

Finally, the 'bird cage' was empty and ready to be lowered...

Finally, the 'bird cage' was empty and ready to be lowered...

Unlike the other parts, the bird cage was lowered down through a hatch in the ceiling of the tower...

Unlike the other parts, the bird cage was lowered down through a hatch in the ceiling of the tower

Safely down to the ground...

Safely down on the ground

Clock parts loaded on a trailer and off to Saffron Walden for restoration...

Clock parts loaded on a trailer and off to Saffron Walden for restoration

A lot of work will be needed to restore our clock to full working order...

Source: Patricia Goulding (Churchwarden)
Date: 29th October 2018