Property: The Chimes
Grade:
Reason:
In 1876 funds were raised by public subscription to build a set of chimes in the tower of St Edward’s Church, Leek. These were designed to sound the hours, the quarters, and play tunes every three hours. At the start of the 20th century the mechanism was silent and in pieces.
To facilitate repairs the Leek and Moorlands Historic Buildings Trust needed to find a firm with the appropriate skills, gain a faculty from the Diocese of Lichfield, the approval of the Church Buildings Council and seek funding. Only Cumbria Clocks had the relevant experience of similar mechanisms.
Funding came from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Leek and District Historical Society, Leek Town Council, the Moorlands Partnership and the owners, St. Edward’s Church.
As a result: Cumbria Clocks removed the whole mechanism and cleaned or re-cut various elements and restored it to a playable condition. Despite their best efforts the chimes still show their age, with erratic timing and occasional clashes largely caused by the earlier electrification of part of the mechanism which runs faster than was originally intended.
