Church Clock - St John the Baptist - Tunstall, Kent - Town Clocks on Waymarking.com

Church clock on the bell tower of St John the Baptist, Tunstall.
The clock has a black face with gilded roman numerals and hands.

From THE RINGING WORLD, Vol LXXI No 3348
"In recent years a considerable anount of money has been spent on tbe church fabric, heating and a new organ; but in December 1973, the Parochial Church council unanimously agreed to embark upon the restoration of the bells and conversion of the chiming clock to automatic electric winding. Various reports were studied and it was finally decided to rehang the eight bells in a new 2-tier steel frame with nearly all new fittings. Tunstall originally had five bells cast by various founders between 1573 and 1702, and these were recast into a ring of six by Thomas Mears II, in 1843. In 1900 Mears & Staiubank rehung the six bells in a new frame and two trebles were added in 1923. These were the gift of a parishioner. Mr. Charles Homewood, who 10 years previously had also donated the chiming clock.

ln January of this year the bells and old frame were removed by Mr. Philip Jakeman of The Whitechapel Bell Foundry, with the assistance of a ‘labour force’ provided by local ringers, friends and members of the K.C.A.C.R. At this time the c1ock was also removed by Gillett & Johnston of Croydon. On 21 April the bells, new frame and all the ancillary equipment arrived back in Tunstall, and within three weeks Phil, once again assisted by local labour, had the bells ready for ringing. The six older bells have had their cannons removed and new cast iron headstocks with steel gudgeons and ball bearings fitted, and all eight bells have been turned and retuned. Unfortunately, due to the poor-quality casting of some of the older bells, retuning has not improved the tune and tone of the bells as was expected. However, we now have a first-class frame and fittings, and it can only be hoped that we may possibly be able to recast the complete ring in the not-too-distant future.

Monday, 12 May, saw the return of the clock. This had been completely overhauled and, with all the wheelwork polished and lacquered and other surfaces repainted, looked like new. The installation was carried out by Mr. Bernard O’Grady, who also repainted the dial. Two weeks later the chimes were ringing out over the parish again. and all was ready for the Bishop's Visit."

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Status: Working Display: Mounted Web link to additional info: [Web Link] Year built: Not listed

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