Tony Coleman reports on St Giles’ tribute to Edward Dent, master clockmaker In the same year, our horological hero made his first “turret” clock, and 12 months later his second was installed at St Giles’. But after 180 years it required some refurbishment.
The work was undertaken with great care by Cumbria Clocks, making sure to preserve as much of its legacy as possible.
Its team was led by founder Keith Scobie Youngs, a former master of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers. Our picture shows Malcolm Brown working on the fitting of the clock. It also shows the beautiful brass and bronze work, brought back to life by Nigel Potter, who also made the small number of new parts needed.
Many of us learned in our summer issue of CQ that the turret timepiece in St Giles’ church is highly distinctive. It was only the second made by Edward Dent, the master maker of accurate chronometers, used extensively by the Royal Navy from 1843.
Both talk glowingly about the pleasure of working on such a piece of history. As Keith says: “Dent made clocks to last, this one has lasted 180 years and our aim is to make sure it lasts for another180 years,” The clock is being reinstalled in St Giles’ and is due to start chiming again in November.
