Town Hall’s Clock Movement Begins Journey to Restoration

A significant and historical step in the restoration of the town hall building in Bourne has taken place this week as part of the regeneration project funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

This week The Cumbria Clock Company carefully removed the building’s original internal clock mechanism, complete with weights and pulleys, for refurbishment work and storage until it is returned after the full building renovation.

The Thwaites and Reed 1821 clock mechanism

The mechanism was designed and built in 1821 by the renowned company Thwaites and Reed of Clerkenwell, London. In 1900, the copper clock dial in the clocktower was given a new white opal glass face, allowing it to be lit by gaslight. However in 1932, the gaslight caused a fire which destroyed the clocktower, while the clock movement within the building was saved. The clocktower was not reconstructed at the time but a new dial was installed on the pediment.

Once the town hall building is reopened, this magnificent clock movement will take pride of place in a bespoke display cabinet on the first floor. It will be automated, rather than requiring manual winding, and will run the new clock face in the rebuilt clocktower.

Funds from the Len Pick Trust will allow for the reconstruction of the town hall’s clocktower, and the original Georgian clock, in addition to wider support for the whole regeneration project.

Stuart Morrison (l) and Keith Cotton (r), The Cumbria Clock Company with Charles Houseago, Bourne Town Hall Trust

Keith Cotton, Technical Sales Manager, The Cumbria Clock Company said:

The Cumbria Clock Company are pleased to be involved in such an unusual & interesting project, with the restoration & re-instatement of the Thwaite & Reed of Clerkenwell, London 1821, hour strike movement, located so it can be viewed within the town hall. It will drive a replica dial & hands to the original design on the new tower. It is particularly interesting for Keith Scobie-Youngs the owner of the company, who in his younger days was trained by clockmakers who had been apprentices at Thwaites, since this time he’s been an enthusiast of Thwaites clocks & at some stage during the project will provide a lecture on them in Bourne. We look forward to progressing & completing the project.