ST THOMAS'S CHURCH, RYDE FOR NETWORK RYDE CHURCH CLOCK RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION

Description

This project is intended to conserve, clean, preserve, restore and protect the rare church clock within the grade II listed church. Clock Notes and Description In compliance with conservation best practice the clock is considered capable of being restored to its original hand wound bell strike configuration of 1827. It can also be restored as a mechanically or automatically wound time piece reverting to the position established in 1997. The clock is a cast iron two train gravity birdcage approximately 38" x 36" x19", driving a single dial with an hourly strike. The going train has a 12"x12" wood barrel with brass cap ends legended with the maker's name. It has some 1.5mm galvanized wire rope and a power reserve. There is a winding handle present. Attached to the going train is a Thwaites and Reed climbing monkey auto winder. The escapement is an anchor with a 7" escape wheel. The pendulum is approximately 11' 5" total and has a wood rod and cast iron lenticular bob 13" in diameter with a rating nut below. The setting dial is silvered brass with the legend "Made by John Moore & Son Clerkenwell London 1827". There is a repair plate with the legend "Clock restored and automatic winder supplied and fitted by Thwaites & Reed 1997." The strike train has a 12"x12" wood barrel with brass cap ends. There is some 2.5mm galvanised wire rope. Viewed from ground level the dial is convex hand planished copper with ribbed copper hands. The minute hand is externally counterpoised. It has a ratchet fly. The going train weight is a 7" high 7.5" diameter cast iron cylinder with an embedded eye carrier. The strike train weight is a 8" high x 8.5" diameter cast iron cylinder with an embedded eye carrier and a bow shackle. NB. The hammer work is missing and the bells have been removed and the strike function is not working. It is not intended to replace or restore these. Further no form of electronic bell is required. The weight shafts do not have impact beds Regardless of the drive unit options, the dial and hands should be restored, redecorated with clockmakers enamel and re-guilded. The dial and hand decoration is in very poor condition, but structurally sound. The horse is a traditional wood frame. The clock room is in a loft with a stairway and a narrow ladder access. The clock cupboard is complete with detachable sides for maintenance. Access to the site is good. The clock has been left derelict and is covered in bird detritus but the mechanism had been covered with a tarpaulin and is relatively clean. Conservation may be done in situ, but space is limited and it is assumed that the clock will be removed. External scaffolding is provided but not lifting equipment as may be required. All work is to be done to conservation standards of English Heritage, Historic England, the United Kingdom Institute of Conservation - suppliers are expected to be able to provide a considerable expertise and long experience in this area.

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