View attachment 403
IT MIGHT not be obvious but Camborne's town clock has been revealed to be the little brother of London's Big Ben.
The town clock, which dates from 1875, and the capital's larger and more famous version were both built by clock makers Dent of London.
Clock repairer Dave Clarke, who started work this week on refurbishing the Camborne clock, said: "It's a very good quality clock. They did well when they spent their money on it.
"It's a lot smaller than Big Ben but, basically, it's the same clock."
Mr Clarke, who works for the Cumbria Clock Company, has worked on the device previously and also installed the clock outside Cross Street News in Camborne.
This time, the gearing will be cleaned, the faces and hands repainted and the four faces reglazed.
The clock was installed several years after the building was constructed by the mine-owning Basset family, of Tehidy.
Delighted
The refurbishment, costing several thousand pounds, is being funded by Camborne Town Council and the Townscape Heritage Initiative.
Camborne's mayor, Councillor John Beare, was delighted the clock was being given a spring clean.
"The faces were beginning to look shabby, with glass missing, so now is the ideal opportunity to do the work."
Local historian David Thomas said the clock tower was part of what was originally the market house for Camborne.
"The whole building cost £7,000 when it was built in 1866 but for several years there were no clock faces in the tower. They were boarded over."
To ensure the clock keeps exact time, there are coins which can be placed on the pendulum to make it lose or gain time.
Cornwall news, Jobs, Sports, Cars, Homes | This is Cornwall
IT MIGHT not be obvious but Camborne's town clock has been revealed to be the little brother of London's Big Ben.
The town clock, which dates from 1875, and the capital's larger and more famous version were both built by clock makers Dent of London.
Clock repairer Dave Clarke, who started work this week on refurbishing the Camborne clock, said: "It's a very good quality clock. They did well when they spent their money on it.
"It's a lot smaller than Big Ben but, basically, it's the same clock."
Mr Clarke, who works for the Cumbria Clock Company, has worked on the device previously and also installed the clock outside Cross Street News in Camborne.
This time, the gearing will be cleaned, the faces and hands repainted and the four faces reglazed.
The clock was installed several years after the building was constructed by the mine-owning Basset family, of Tehidy.
Delighted
The refurbishment, costing several thousand pounds, is being funded by Camborne Town Council and the Townscape Heritage Initiative.
Camborne's mayor, Councillor John Beare, was delighted the clock was being given a spring clean.
"The faces were beginning to look shabby, with glass missing, so now is the ideal opportunity to do the work."
Local historian David Thomas said the clock tower was part of what was originally the market house for Camborne.
"The whole building cost £7,000 when it was built in 1866 but for several years there were no clock faces in the tower. They were boarded over."
To ensure the clock keeps exact time, there are coins which can be placed on the pendulum to make it lose or gain time.
Cornwall news, Jobs, Sports, Cars, Homes | This is Cornwall
