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The legacy of winding the St Bartholomew’s Almshouses clock

jennicollins

The St Bartholomew’s Almshouses’ clock, believed to be one of the oldest turret clocks in England, has been dutifully winded every few days since at least 1698. This year, for perhaps the first time, a resident has taken on the responsibility.



David Pratley, Richard Papworth and Tony in front of St Bart's Almshouses
David Pratley, Richard Papworth and Tony in front of St Bart's Almshouses

Richard Papworth, one of the proctors of the almshouses, has been winding the clock for the last six years. He has now passed the task over to Tony, a current resident at St Bartholomew’s.

Richard, the previous chairman of Newbury Almshouse Trust, said “Tony offering to wind the St Bart’s clock is a great example of our helpful and considerate community of residents.”


“Although we can say for sure that the clock dates from 1698, several features suggest that it could have been made even earlier and installed in the original almshouses in 1618. The clock workings are accessed through a narrow doorway and ladder, with a tricky winding mechanism, and we’re very grateful to Tony for taking on such an important and historic job.”


David Pratley, a retired engineer and toolmaker, and clock enthusiast, has been repairing the St Bart’s Almshouses’ clock for many years, as well as researching its history. Although it’s not possible to find out who made the clock, its features are similar to the Dover Castle Clock, now in the British Museum, with a verge and foliot escapement movement which was also made in the early seventeenth century. The clock also has plaques that commemorate two important occasions, the renovation of the clock in 2017 and Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Newbury in 1972.



Tony climbing up into the clock tower



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zillyhines
Oct 28, 2024

Can't wait for this to be my new home.

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