Starting at 12 noon on October 2nd in the Huntstile Organic Farm marquee a village and visitors’ lunch was held.Many thanks due to Lizzie Ridout and all those volunteer helpers. Well over 100 attended from the very young to the ‘more mature’ There was great fun and chatter as well as a scrumptious meal.
The issue:The ‘heart’ has stopped beating and we villagers don’t know when it’s time to stop working and have a cuppa! Much of it is still in good condition but mainly lack of lubrication has led to it stopping. It needs dismantling, repairing, cleaning, lubricating, and putting back together.The History: the clock was a gift from Sir Charles Kemys-Tynte of Halswell House. It dates from 1734 and is by John Hunt, clockmaker of Bridgwater.Any clock of this age and provenance should score highly in any significance scale. Few church clocks survive from before this date. The clock was the first to include ‘Bridgwater Crossings’ (a type of wheel spoke) and a first to use cast brass wheels. The good news: The PCC has obtained the appropriate permissions for the repair work to go ahead. Work is scheduled to start in November 2022, with completion expected in February 2023. The overall cost is £3450 and we have received grants from Churchcare/Pilgrim Trust for £1500, plus £1000 from the Leche Trust. We only need to raise a further £700 to pay for the work to be completed.
