THE Crediton Parish Church clock dials and hands that have been missing from the north and south tower faces since October 21 last year were returned to the church tower on Thursday and Friday, April 27 and 28.

It had originally been planned that, once repainted and gilded, they would have been returned to the tower about the end of November but unfortunately their removal exposed a number of structural issues that had to be addressed first.

This work involved stonework repairs, re-pointing, the removal of corroding ironwork and strapping and the blocking up of the north side tower opening with soft brick. All this was achieved by using rope access.

Bill Jerman, on behalf of the church, said: “The dials have been rubbed down and thoroughly prepared before being painted using the Rustoleum paint system finishing in gloss black.

“The outer rings, minute digits, and roman numerals of the dials and hands have all been gilded using extra-thick English gold leaf.

“The opportunity was also taken to dismantle and clean the two sets of dial motion works. These are the gears situated behind the dials that give the 12:1 reduction between the hour and minute hands.

“The remainder of the clock mechanisms have all been cleaned and serviced.”

Mr Jerman said that all the funds for the restoration of the clock dials and hands were raised through donations and grants.

He added: “We would like to thank Crediton Dairy, the Friends of Crediton Church, Unity Mark Lodge of Freemasons and Devon County Council Investing in Devon Grant (Nick Way) for their support along with all the other kind and generous donations received.”

Mr Jerman continued: “Please bear with us over the next few weeks if the clock seems to be running slightly slow or fast as it may take a little while to fine tune the regulation of everything especially if we get  wide changes in temperatures and weather. 

“All the work completed to the clock dials and hands and the clock mechanisms have been expertly completed by the Cumbria Clock Company and the tower repairs and returning the dials and hands to the tower by Vitruvius Building Conservation.

“If anyone would like to see the clock mechanism in the church tower there will be daily tours on offer at 2pm each day (except Sunday) during the forthcoming Church Flower Festival ’What’s the Point’ that is on from Saturday, June 3 until Thursday, June 8.”

The clock dials measure six feet in diameter and there has been a church clock in Crediton since at least 1551.

The current clock and dials date from 1838 and were made and supplied by Thwaites and Read of Clerkenwell in London. The dials and hands were last painted and gilded in August 1990 by Brian Hill. 

Alan Quick