Demanding special skills and fortitude the clock repairs cannot be undertaken in the winter time, for safety reasons. Not for the faint hearted, the project will involve abseiling down the outside of the tower - to be achieved by The Cumbria Clock Company!

But what about the history of our special church clock? The tower was built in 1540. We do not know if it originally had a clock but we do have the Churchwardens’ Accounts which record that the clock was “mended” in 1668, at a cost of 4 pence!

As a commemoration of WW2 victory, Batcombe raised £400 to install an electric clock with an additional face on the west side of the tower. Back in 1947, £400 was equivalent to nearly double the PCC’s annual income. In the year 2000, local climber Gordon Milward abseiled down the tower - under the guidance of horological engineer Andrew Nichols - to remove the clock’s hands so the damaged spindle could be reached. Now, in September, there will be more of this spectacular and brave work - this time by The Cumbria Clock Company.

Previous donors, to whom we are extremely grateful, are:

Batcombe Parish Council. 500

Lucinda in memory of JJ 368

Adrian Stevens 100

Henry & Colina Stevenson £150

Marion & Theresa Doherty 100

Ray & Sally Clark & family 510

Nina & Dan 150

Philip & Eileen Clarke 300

Robert O’Farrell/Sally Pollitzer 200

David & Elizabeth Lewis

Niels Westberg

Audrey Sage 100

Sarah van Gelder 100

Ben & Arissa

Nick Gore 250

Vanessa Hoare

David Stevens 100