Guidance note Turret

A turret that is in working order makes a positive contribution to the tower that houses it. A makes a particular aural contribution to the area around a church and is an ever-present reminder of the presence of the church that maintains it. Although turret clocks may no longer be relied on for the time, an out of use clock can have a negative impact that is surprisingly strong, giving an incorrect and negative message about the life of the church that owns it. A clock in good order is usually noticed and appreciated.

1. Introduction in the tower is also helpful, since Committee of the Church some work to clocks can have Buildings Council (CBC). They implications for , perhaps bring together in one place advice These guidelines are intended to most especially in a busy ringing in previous publications and assist Diocesan Advisory tower. guidance notes on both the Committees (DACs), incumbents, maintenance of turret clocks and churchwardens, architects and others concerned with church Work on a clock, beyond routine the installation of automatic winding (1982, 1984, 1996, maintenance. They explain the maintenance, will require a importance of correct faculty, which must be in place 2005). maintenance, some of which can before work starts. Proposals to be done within the parish, and introduce a new clock, or, on rare 2. Conservation versus set out what should be occasions, dispose of an existing Restoration undertaken by a qualified and one, require a faculty, appropriately experienced clock consultation with the DAC, and, Almost all maker. The guidelines explain for a clock of historic interest, the movements are of some historical relevant safety considerations, CBC. Your DAC Secretary or importance and should be kept in both for the public and for those Archdeacon will be able to advise good condition and maintained in working on or inspecting clocks. you. use wherever possible. Alterations that significantly Any parish contemplating work Grant-aid towards the cost of affect the original mechanism on a church clock is advised to restoration or repair may be should be avoided at all costs. consult its DAC at an early stage. available from the CBC or from other grant givers, including the Most DACs have a Clocks Adviser Turret clocks are often unique who will be able to assist the DAC Heritage Lottery Fund. and some are very rare and in forming its advice to the should be sympathetically treated parish. Early consultation with These guidelines have been and their original features anyone responsible for any bells prepared by the Clocks preserved. A relatively small

number of outstanding clocks, converted to electric winding it is  inspecting the some bearing the names of still good practice to have suspension prominent domestic clockmakers, someone responsible for it and  checking of clicks on great were produced over a long period who is willing to visit the clock wheels and flys and these should receive special occasionally to see that all is well.  thorough inspection of the attention. The Antiquarian Where possible it is good for the clock movement Horological Society can help to responsible person to have a  hammers (for identify these clocks (contact deputy who will be trained to striking/chiming clocks) details below/hyperlink). succeed them. For many clocks  automatic winding (if fitted) the responsible person will be  visual inspection of dials, able to set the time correctly, A few early clocks may be so hands and dial fixings seriously worn or heavily manage the hour change, and ensure that the clock housing is corroded that the repairs or The clock mechanism should be replacements necessary to in good order and the doors kept shut to help protect the kept as clean as possible. restore them to sound working Excessive lubrication and the use condition would destroy much of movement from airborne dust and grit. For some clocks the of inappropriate grades of oil will their character. Such clocks regulation of the timekeeping will encourage wear of the should be protected prevent movement, which is why this is a further deterioration and remain be a matter than can be attended to locally and your clock maker job only for a professional. Gritty in place out of use. In these, dust, pigeon droppings and relatively rare, circumstances, will be able to advise you about this. similar harmful substances can be using a new electric clock to drive excluded by a dust proof case, the hands can be acceptable. ventilated to avoid condensation, Most usually keeping a clock in For the better operation and with hinged or removable use will be the most effective way preservation of the clock it is sections to give free access for of conserving it. Unused or important to have a maintenance maintenance purposes. A suitable redundant clocks are almost contract for the clock with a case can also give protection to always safer in the tower in professional clock maker other gears associated with the preference to being displayed in sympathetic to historic clocks. clock, most commonly the church. There will be Such a contract should include an motionwork immediately behind exceptions to this when there is annual visit to the church. Such the dials. If possible, electric both space in the church for the maintenance is essential the lighting should be installed in the clock and the willingness and clock's well being and, since it will clock case. interest to display it in a way that include safety inspections of such will help the wider public to items as weight lines, will enable appreciate it. the parish to be confident that We have become used to the clock is safe for other users of domestic clocks and that the tower. keep accurate time. The same 3. Routine maintenance expectations of time-keeping are sometimes made of turret clocks. All practical work on turret clocks It is likely that the annual The best turret clocks, with maintenance of the clock by the should be undertaken by qualified gravity and professional conservator will professional turret-clock makers temperature-compensated following conservation principles. include: , fulfil such However, it is appropriate to have expectations if properly one person in the parish who has  safety checks for the weight maintained, it must be recognised overall responsibility for the well- lines and pulleys that simpler and earlier clocks will being of the turret clock. When a  lubrication not be so accurate. The clock can clock is hand wound this will  removal of dirt and surplus usually be kept accurate to an usually be the person who winds oil acceptable degree by regular and the clock, or one of a team of  maintenance of leading off minor resetting of the time. For winders. Where a clock has been work clocks that are found problematic

to adjust for good time-keeping to store rubbish or cleaning or in the treatment of historic there are various electronic materials. It should not be objects. It would almost never be control systems available necessary for anyone to have advised for historic painted commercially. These are usually regular access to the weight objects that are sheltered from considered for use on clocks with chute. Extra weights must never the weather. Regilding should be auto-winding and difficult access. be added to an existing one to carried out using 23.5 or 24 carat When such a system is used it force a neglected clock to work. double-thickness English gold leaf should be applied to a clock so to the original, or previous, that it can be removed and the 5. Dials and hands design for the particular dial; gold clock left entirely as it was before paint is useless for this purpose. the device was fitted. It is not Opal glass in nineteenth-century necessary to make physical Dials should be inspected cast iron dials illuminated from alterations to the clock itself to regularly, both for their the back is best replaced with the install assistance with appearance and their condition. same material when this is timekeeping. However, it should They can give rise to safety necessary. However, opal-type always be remembered that such hazards if their fixings become glass may not be available and on devices are no substitute for insecure. The inspecting architect these occasions an acrylic regular professional maintenance should be consulted in cases of substitute can be considered. and should only be considered doubt. Dials that require when the clock is in overall good attention, whether internal or external, should be conserved, Damaged or corroded hands order. should be repaired wherever using traditional materials as far as possible. Advice can be sought possible, or, as a last resort Additional technical information is from the DAC and, in the case of replacements made to the same available in the Turret Clock dials of historical or artistic design using the same materials Keepers Handbook, see section 8 importance, from the CBC. as the original. Hands should below. always be carefully balanced,

internally or externally as Historic dials made of wood must 4. Weights, pulleys and lines appropriate, after the work is be conserved if possible. Since completed.

dials are exposed to the full Weights, pulleys, and the lines impact of the weather some will which support them must always reach a condition of being beyond As with all other types of be maintained in good condition, repair and replacement is conservation, work to clock dials as their failure can cause a sometimes necessary. should be documented with a written description of the work serious accident. They should Replacement dials should be always be inspected as part of accurate replicas made of a done, including details of all the annual maintenance contract. suitable hardwood and painted in materials used, illustrated with There are, however, some appropriate colours, as agreed by clear photographs. matters that can be attended to the DAC. Where replicas are by the parish to ensure the safe made of skeleton dials, glass fibre 6. Bells and bell hammers operation of the clock, most replacement, having the same particularly in relation to the appearance as the original, can Any work which may affect the weights. be considered, although it is rare ringing of the bells should be for a cast iron skeleton to be discussed with the tower captain beyond repair. Weights should almost always be and advice sought from the DAC. enclosed in chutes, with boxes of broken bricks, sand or rubble to Due to the harsh conditions that Bell hammers and their absorb the impact if they should the dial and hands face, associated cranks and wires can fall. It must never be possible for repainting will almost always easily be neglected, but should anyone to pass beneath them. require that the dial is stripped to receive regular inspection and Chutes must not be used as a run its base material. This is not lubrication of all moving parts as for electric cables and switches or normal practice in conservation,

part of the annual maintenance of to find someone in a parish to being taken that the frame the clock. The tower captain may wind the clock on a regular basis. is not damaged. wish to be present for this In a limited number of cases this 4. Motors must be rigidly inspection. problem might be managed by supported so that providing safer access to a clock there is no risk of Bell hammers must not rest on that is presently difficult to reach, driving chains jumping their bells as this creates a or relocating the movement their pulleys. serious risk of cracking the bell within the tower - a less 5. It is therefore and spoils its sound. This should satisfactory solution from a advisable to have the be checked regularly and hammer historical point of view. movement cleaned springs readjusted as necessary. A more satisfactory solution is when automatic A hammer should always strike provided by the use of automatic winding is fitted, its bell at right angles, on its electric winders, now a well- unless this has been thickest part and in such a established practice. It is vital, done recently. position that it does not cause the however, that the integrity of the 6. Suitable power bell to swing. If a bell has been clock is preserved. Only in supplies must be provided by a qualified quarter-turned because of exceptional cases is it acceptable clapper wear, the clock hammer to substitute a synchronous electrician in must not strike immediately over motor drive to the hands of an accordance with the the worn area. existing clock, since it entirely relevant regulations. 7. Weight chutes, alters the technical character of the installation. In such cases the although no longer in When bells are hung for ringing, original movement should be use, should ideally be any clock hammers must be able preserved alongside the electric preserved and to be lifted clear, otherwise there one. protected in the event is a risk of damage to hammers, of returning the clock bells or their mountings during to manual winding, ringing. The pull-off wires must The clock must always remain unless a well be operated from the ringing completely intact so that it is established Statement chamber and there should be possible to put the clock back to of Need in the tower some clear indication when this its original state simply by makes this impossible. has been done. If there are removing the added parts, electric clock hammers there will without leaving any signs that The Council also advises that: be an isolating switch to pull automatic winding has ever been them off the bells. This switch fitted. The following requirements should be prominent in the should be observed: 1. Auto-winding should ringing room with a clear normally be applied to indication to the ringers that it is the barrel arbor. safe to ring. 2. In exceptional 1. No parts should be circumstances, and removed from the where this can be movement. There is an increasing demand for demonstrated to be church clocks to be silenced at 2. The original weights and for the benefit of the pulleys should be retained night. Electrical units for this clock, auto-winding purpose are available as standard at the church, clearly may be applied to the labelled to prevent items. 2nd arbor, but never accidental disposal. any higher in the 3. There should be no cutting 7. Automatic winders and train. or drilling of the clock electric drives 3. Winding jacks must frame. Any essential never be used as part attachments can be made of an auto-winding For a variety of reasons it by clamping plates, care installation. sometimes becomes impractical

It follows from the above that Clock Group of the Antiquarian direct electrical drives must not Horological Society, be applied to the fly arbor of a 4 Lovat Lane, striking or chiming train. EC3R 8DT . Tel 0733 481795 Application of auto-winding to the barrel arbor is normally preferred [email protected] to prevent inappropriate wear on The Turret Clock Keeper's wheels and pinions and to ensure Handbook is one of a set of smooth and consistent operation guides written by Chris McKay of the striking train. and available from. These guides explain many technical matters in Many carillon or tune-playing far greater detail than is within mechanisms have survived and the scope of this leaflet. The should be preserved, as they are information given in them is no of historic interest. The driving substitute for employing a weights are very heavy and hand professional clock maker to winding is an arduous task. It is maintain you clock. possible to adapt these for http://www.turretclock.force9.co. electrical winding, but never uk/ direct electrical drive. Accreditation is now available for Automatic winding mechanisms clock makers, and details of clock will normally be included in an makers accredited in annual maintenance contract. The conservation can be found at the presence of automatic winding Conservation Register of the does not remove the need for at Institute of Conservation (Icon), least an annual visual inspection http://www.conservationregiste of the clock to ensure that all r.com. Accreditation for clock appears to be well and to makers through this scheme is a regulate the time keeping. fairly new development at the Pendulum regulators are available time of writing (2008) and the to regulate the time keeping of Register should become more clocks. They are not a substitute comprehensive in the coming for the occasional visual years. If the register does not inspection of the clock. provide any useful contacts for you there is an additional source 8. Further sources of of information from the British Horological Institute, information http://www.bhi.co.uk/repairer.ht ml. If you use the latter register In addition to your DAC and the it is essential to ensure that the Church Buildings Council, the clock maker is experienced with following will be of use to you in turret clocks and that they are the maintenance of your clock. sympathetic to conservation Details of grants offered by the principles. CBC can be found by clicking here.

Historical information and guidance on technical matters can be provided by the Turret