Before and after: Ancient church clock is restored

A composite image showing a grey stone church tower on the left, in the middle of which is a tired-looking black clock that has faded gold Roman numerals. On the right, the same clock is seen next to two people working in a cherry picker basket, but is now shining in blue and gold.Image source, St Catherine's Church/ BBC
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A 600-year-old working clock has been refurbished by a specialist team

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Before a team of specialist restorers got to it, this ancient clock was looking rather worn out.

The working clock at St Catherine's Church, in Montacute, Somerset – which dates back around 600 years – will now last for another several hundred years, say the restorers.

It still has a number of its original components, including the outer frame, but the clock was regilded and the dial was replaced with a shiny new one in its traditional colours of blue and gold.

The church said it was "absolutely fantastic" to have the clock back and that the restoration was hoped to bring more visitors to the village.

Aerial view of two experts reinstalling the clock at St Catherine's Church, in Montacute, Somerset. A crowd looks on from the street below.
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Two experts reinstall the clock as villagers below watch the tricky operation

The church was previously believed to have dated back to the 16th Century but experts put it at around 1400 after looking at the construction, making it one of the oldest working clocks in the country.

Two restorers spent a difficult hour on a cherry picker reinstalling the clock after its makeover.

"It didn't go back the way it came on," said Symon Boyd from Timsbury Clocks near Bath, who has spent eight weeks working on the timepiece.

"Clocks are a work of art and a thing of beauty. What we've produced now will still be running in 300 or 400 years," he added.

Churchwarden Nic Laycock said: "It is a matter of pride that this Somerset treasure has been restored."

St Catherine's now wants to use the clock as a springboard to draw in more visitors.

The clock room in the church tower has been fitted with new lighting and cameras and there are plans for an exhibition.

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