St Catherine’s Church in Montacute, Somerset, is home to what experts believe may be one of the oldest working clocks in the UK, with origins dating back to the 1400s. Previously thought to have been crafted in the 1600s, the clock revealed its true historical significance during a recent restoration assessment in 2024.
Mark Lidster, the Buildings Adviser for the Diocese of Bath and Wells, and Clocks Adviser to the Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches (DAC), affirmed that the clock’s mechanism predates many known medieval timepieces, sparking a fundraising effort for its restoration and the creation of a dedicated exhibition space featuring its history.
The restoration work, scheduled to commence on 20th March 2025, will kickstart a special rededication ceremony on its return in summer 2025, aimed at acknowledging its historical and cultural importance and honoring the volunteers who have diligently maintained it over the years.
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This historical timepiece has been an integral part of Montacute village life, tended to by committed volunteers such as Eric Rogers, who dedicatedly cared for it for 67 years, and the late engineer and clock enthusiast Humphrey, who continued its upkeep, even refurbishing it in his workshop in 1987.
Alongside the clock, the restoration efforts have brought to light other historical artifacts, including a collection of large iron keys believed to date back to the Reformation era, all of which will be showcased alongside the clock upon its reinstallation.
In addition to celebrating the clock’s history, the church aims to foster community bonds by showcasing the country’s rich heritage and offering visitors an opportunity to witness the 15th-century timepiece, facilitated by improved lighting and a live camera feed from the clock tower’s interior.