Church clock reinstalled after renovation

The clock was purchased from Bensons of London in 1866

Work has started in a Leicestershire village to reinstall a three-faced church clock that dates back to the 1870s.

The clock at All Saints Church in Thurlaston was installed in January 1876 but was removed in September after it stopped working and was sent away for repair.

The £20,000 restoration project has been carried out by Mansfield-based Timed Assured.

Clock manufacturers from the company have been abseiling down the tower to complete the work.

The clock has been a recognisable artefact in Thurlaston since the mid-19th Century

"This clock is in the centre of the village and is visible to everyone who goes by," said Philippa England, a member of the parochial church council for All Saints Church.

"The clock has not been right for some years. If you looked at the photographs that were taken before it went for repair, it just did look really tired and sad.

"To see it now, with the new faces going up, it is quite fantastic to watch."

Meetings to discuss the renovation project began in September 2023.

The re-development has received support from community groups.

"I was one of the first people to ask about renovating the church clock," said Marion Tarratt, the treasurer of the Carnival Committee which donated £7,600 to the project.

"It was so sad to see the clock forlorn. It means so much to so many different people and the community is delighted that it is being refurbished," added Ms Tarratt.

The reinstallation project is set to be completed by the end of January.