Latest news with #SymonBoyd
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Before and after: Ancient Somerset church clock is restored
Before a team of specialist restorers got to it, this ancient clock was looking rather worn 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 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 church said it was "absolutely fantastic" to have the clock back and that the restoration was hoped to bring more visitors to the village. 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 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 clock room in the church tower has been fitted with new lighting and cameras and there are plans for an exhibition.
Glasgow Times
7 days ago
- General
- Glasgow Times
Church clock thought to be 600 years old returns after restoration
The much-loved, turret clock has been undergoing specialist restoration since its removal in March from St Catherine's Church in Montacute, near Yeovil, Somerset. The timepiece was originally thought to have been constructed in the 1600s but research has confirmed the clock's mechanism is significantly older than first believed and was probably originally constructed in the early 1400s. Specialist restorer Timsbury Clocks has undertaken the restoration project. Symon Boyd works on the restoration of the clock (Grace productions/PA) The dial has been restored to its traditional colours of blue and gold and has been re-gilded. Restorer Symon Boyd has been re-installing the inner workings of the clock in the church ready for the dial to be fastened back on the tower on July 1. Nic Laycock, churchwarden of St Catherine's and restoration project lead, said: 'It is a matter of pride that this Somerset treasure has been restored, and its story will be displayed using entirely Somerset-based specialists. 'The clock has served Montacute for centuries. It carries with it a rich human story, from its construction to the remarkable men who cared for it day after day. Humphrey Hamlin, left, who previously worked on restoring the clock, joins Mr Boyd in re-installing the mechanism inside the church tower (Grace productions/PA) 'If it could talk it would recount the history of the church's witness to the village from medieval times to the present day. 'We know many stories – but there may be much still to discover.' Pupils from the nearby All Saints Church School are preparing a time capsule to be placed behind the clock face to commemorate the restoration for future generations to discover and enjoy. An exhibition is also being developed inside the church to tell the story of the clock. The clock room, which is located 15 metres up the church tower, has been fitted with new lighting and cameras to showcase the inner workings of the timepiece.
Powys County Times
7 days ago
- General
- Powys County Times
Church clock thought to be 600 years old returns after restoration
A church is set to welcome home what experts believe is one of the oldest working timepieces in the country. The much-loved, turret clock has been undergoing specialist restoration since its removal in March from St Catherine's Church in Montacute, near Yeovil, Somerset. The timepiece was originally thought to have been constructed in the 1600s but research has confirmed the clock's mechanism is significantly older than first believed and was probably originally constructed in the early 1400s. Specialist restorer Timsbury Clocks has undertaken the restoration project. The dial has been restored to its traditional colours of blue and gold and has been re-gilded. Restorer Symon Boyd has been re-installing the inner workings of the clock in the church ready for the dial to be fastened back on the tower on July 1. Nic Laycock, churchwarden of St Catherine's and restoration project lead, said: 'It is a matter of pride that this Somerset treasure has been restored, and its story will be displayed using entirely Somerset-based specialists. 'The clock has served Montacute for centuries. It carries with it a rich human story, from its construction to the remarkable men who cared for it day after day. 'If it could talk it would recount the history of the church's witness to the village from medieval times to the present day. 'We know many stories – but there may be much still to discover.' Pupils from the nearby All Saints Church School are preparing a time capsule to be placed behind the clock face to commemorate the restoration for future generations to discover and enjoy. An exhibition is also being developed inside the church to tell the story of the clock. The clock room, which is located 15 metres up the church tower, has been fitted with new lighting and cameras to showcase the inner workings of the timepiece.
North Wales Chronicle
7 days ago
- General
- North Wales Chronicle
Church clock thought to be 600 years old returns after restoration
The much-loved, turret clock has been undergoing specialist restoration since its removal in March from St Catherine's Church in Montacute, near Yeovil, Somerset. The timepiece was originally thought to have been constructed in the 1600s but research has confirmed the clock's mechanism is significantly older than first believed and was probably originally constructed in the early 1400s. Specialist restorer Timsbury Clocks has undertaken the restoration project. The dial has been restored to its traditional colours of blue and gold and has been re-gilded. Restorer Symon Boyd has been re-installing the inner workings of the clock in the church ready for the dial to be fastened back on the tower on July 1. Nic Laycock, churchwarden of St Catherine's and restoration project lead, said: 'It is a matter of pride that this Somerset treasure has been restored, and its story will be displayed using entirely Somerset-based specialists. 'The clock has served Montacute for centuries. It carries with it a rich human story, from its construction to the remarkable men who cared for it day after day. 'If it could talk it would recount the history of the church's witness to the village from medieval times to the present day. 'We know many stories – but there may be much still to discover.' Pupils from the nearby All Saints Church School are preparing a time capsule to be placed behind the clock face to commemorate the restoration for future generations to discover and enjoy. An exhibition is also being developed inside the church to tell the story of the clock. The clock room, which is located 15 metres up the church tower, has been fitted with new lighting and cameras to showcase the inner workings of the timepiece.
Leader Live
7 days ago
- General
- Leader Live
Church clock thought to be 600 years old returns after restoration
The much-loved, turret clock has been undergoing specialist restoration since its removal in March from St Catherine's Church in Montacute, near Yeovil, Somerset. The timepiece was originally thought to have been constructed in the 1600s but research has confirmed the clock's mechanism is significantly older than first believed and was probably originally constructed in the early 1400s. Specialist restorer Timsbury Clocks has undertaken the restoration project. The dial has been restored to its traditional colours of blue and gold and has been re-gilded. Restorer Symon Boyd has been re-installing the inner workings of the clock in the church ready for the dial to be fastened back on the tower on July 1. Nic Laycock, churchwarden of St Catherine's and restoration project lead, said: 'It is a matter of pride that this Somerset treasure has been restored, and its story will be displayed using entirely Somerset-based specialists. 'The clock has served Montacute for centuries. It carries with it a rich human story, from its construction to the remarkable men who cared for it day after day. 'If it could talk it would recount the history of the church's witness to the village from medieval times to the present day. 'We know many stories – but there may be much still to discover.' Pupils from the nearby All Saints Church School are preparing a time capsule to be placed behind the clock face to commemorate the restoration for future generations to discover and enjoy. An exhibition is also being developed inside the church to tell the story of the clock. The clock room, which is located 15 metres up the church tower, has been fitted with new lighting and cameras to showcase the inner workings of the timepiece.
