The Clock (1699)

We gratefully acknowledge the following extract taken from “CLOCKMAKING IN OXFORDSHIRE" by CFCBeeson (Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, 1967).

In the plain iron bar frame of this William III clock the lower horizontal bars are placed so as to leave unusually long legs. The finials are laterally inclined swan-necks ending in spherical "door-knobs."Of the 2 side-by-side trains the going barrel has been replaced by one of much larger diameter and now takes an increased length of wire rope for a 4-sheaf pulley-system. The brass 2nd wheels in both trains are lightly built with 8 straight arms expanded near the rim. A plate is bolted to the escape wheel to reinforce it. Two vertical bars strengthen the frame at the back to support the pendulum cock. The pendulum is an iron rod carrying a heavy lenticular bob beating about one second. Three pairs of pivot-bars are attached by nuts, and on the front of the frame is an extra bar provided with 2 slots permitting it to slide up and down. A lateral projection on this bar rests on the squared arbor of the great wheel and the device presumably works as a maintaining power. In the striking train the fly arbor is offset and the locking-plate is outside the frame. Drive to the dial is taken from a contrate wheel vertically upwards to the storey above.

At the top of the pivot-bar, taking the indicator dial and clutched middle wheel, is a small plaque inscribed, "Nicholas Harris de Fritwell com't Oxon Fecit 1699." (shown in the photo on the right)

The clock is mounted on stout wooden corbels projecting from the wall and is not enclosed in the usual cupboard. It is the oldest Oxfordshire turret clock with a date and the maker's name. The churchwardens' accounts have disappeared and its l8th-century history is unknown.

In 2001 we commissioned Gillett & Johnston, clock makers from Croydon, to overhaul the clock and re-gild the dial. A new auto winding mechanism was fitted to replace the lines and weights, which descended through the ringing chamber into the west end of the church below, thereby ending 302 years of winding the clock by hand.

Our Clock keeper, Tower Captain Graham Griffiths, says: “St. Mary’s clock is now 318 years old, and for such an old clock it keeps remarkably good time. It is accurate to within 30 seconds a week.” 

The Bells. The tower contains a peal of nine bells: two dated 1673, two dated 1771 with one 1772, another 1848 and an undated bell from the 17th or 18th century. The youngest the sanctus bell is dated 1825. In 1552, the commissioners recorded four bells and a sanctus bell. In 1631, a stock ring of five bells was supplied by Ellis Knight. In 1679, the church wardens reported the great bell was broken, but by 1684, only five years later, all the bells were in working order. Perhaps this was because two bells had been recast in 1673 by Ellis & Henry Knight. Much later, in 1771, three bells were recast by Thomas Rudhall of Glos. All the bells were retuned and rehung by Whites of Appleton in 2001.