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Clock Tower Refurbishment
This project began in late October 2015 and completed in late July 2016.
The Goring Village Hall clock tower is an iconic local landmark in the village. The tower itself was erected in 1899 as part of the original 'Church Hall' building. The clock was added in 1929. Since then there have been some repairs to the woodwork and some patching of the lead. It is believed that the tower was mostly covered in the original lead which means that it was 115 years old and had begun to leak. The time had come to replace all of the lead and do any necessary repairs to the timbers so that we can enjoy the structure for many further years. This was also a good opportunity to refurbish the clock faces, service the mechanism and align the hands as well as re-guild the weather vane.
The leak was discovered in October 2015 and the decision was made to cover the tower with scaffolding to protect it while a full survey and estimates were prepared. There were several 'surprises' along the way as the original design was, it seems, never intended to be fully waterproof.
The 2016 Trustees decided that some design changes were necessary to protect the building from long term damage.
The refurbished tower 'look' is slightly different from the original design, but much improved for its long term future.
On Tuesday 1st December 2015 John Clark & his scaffolders arrived to erect two platforms and a roof structure to protect the hall from further water ingress and to allow contractors to inspect and then repair the tower.
On 22nd January the Trustees appointed Kevin Bennett of K&M Leadworks to remove the lead. Work commenced on 9th February.
The clock faces were removed by Public Clocks on 8th March and Ward & Co. began their wood work on 16th March
Kevin Bennett began his work on 11th April and took 47 working days to complete.
Kevin received the coveted award of Best Leadworker in the UK from the National Federation of Roofing Contractors in 2017 for his work on our tower.
The work was completed on 25th July at a cost of just over £39k.
The Trustees received many offers of help and donations toward the project, for which they are most grateful.
The leak was discovered in October 2015 and the decision was made to cover the tower with scaffolding to protect it while a full survey and estimates were prepared. There were several 'surprises' along the way as the original design was, it seems, never intended to be fully waterproof.
The 2016 Trustees decided that some design changes were necessary to protect the building from long term damage.
The refurbished tower 'look' is slightly different from the original design, but much improved for its long term future.
On Tuesday 1st December 2015 John Clark & his scaffolders arrived to erect two platforms and a roof structure to protect the hall from further water ingress and to allow contractors to inspect and then repair the tower.
On 22nd January the Trustees appointed Kevin Bennett of K&M Leadworks to remove the lead. Work commenced on 9th February.
The clock faces were removed by Public Clocks on 8th March and Ward & Co. began their wood work on 16th March
Kevin Bennett began his work on 11th April and took 47 working days to complete.
Kevin received the coveted award of Best Leadworker in the UK from the National Federation of Roofing Contractors in 2017 for his work on our tower.
The work was completed on 25th July at a cost of just over £39k.
The Trustees received many offers of help and donations toward the project, for which they are most grateful.
Spot the differences! Can you tell the difference in design?
Before above - After right
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Latest News
Monday 25th July - The final report.
The refurbishment works finished today.
The last few weeks have seen an amazing transformation as the new lead was applied from the bottom up. The result is a work of art by Kevin Bennett of K&M Leadworks.
At the end of June the clock faces were returned and 'properly' fixed. Last week Len Craft from Public Clocks was back to fit the hands and gearing plus the gilded lettering to the East face then set the clock ticking after eight months rest!
Today the final gilding was carried out and the re-gilded weather vane reinstated on it's bearing.
The scaffolding will be removed as soon as possible.
The refurbishment works finished today.
The last few weeks have seen an amazing transformation as the new lead was applied from the bottom up. The result is a work of art by Kevin Bennett of K&M Leadworks.
At the end of June the clock faces were returned and 'properly' fixed. Last week Len Craft from Public Clocks was back to fit the hands and gearing plus the gilded lettering to the East face then set the clock ticking after eight months rest!
Today the final gilding was carried out and the re-gilded weather vane reinstated on it's bearing.
The scaffolding will be removed as soon as possible.
Monday 1st August - Main scaffolding removed and the mechanism in it's current state.
28th July 2016 - The scaffolding is partly gone
25th July 2016
21st July 2016
1st July 2016
23rd June 2016
9th to 16th June 2016
The bell housing
23rd April - Timbers almost complete. Weather vane rod removed
7th April 2016 - Some serious rot found below the top corner posts and the Roll Mops are all fixed in place.
1st April 2016
Ward & Co have finished removing the majority of timber to be replaced and have been putting new Mop Rolls on the lower part of the tower. The top roof has been removed to allow access to the corner posts and timers that need repair.
Ward & Co have finished removing the majority of timber to be replaced and have been putting new Mop Rolls on the lower part of the tower. The top roof has been removed to allow access to the corner posts and timers that need repair.
16th March 2016
Ward & Co began work today measuring up, making templates and removing some timbers to fully inspect what is underneath. The top roof will be removed and replaced with new and the posts supporting four finials will be repaired.
Ward & Co began work today measuring up, making templates and removing some timbers to fully inspect what is underneath. The top roof will be removed and replaced with new and the posts supporting four finials will be repaired.
24th February 2016
Estimates for the woodwork are being prepared. It looks like the cost will be about half of the provisional budget.
The Clock faces, hands, gearing and weather vane were removed on 8th March and taken away for refurbishment.
Estimates for the woodwork are being prepared. It looks like the cost will be about half of the provisional budget.
The Clock faces, hands, gearing and weather vane were removed on 8th March and taken away for refurbishment.
11th February 2016
Kevin Bennett has finished removing the old lead. He says it was quite badly corroded in places. However, the good news is that there is not too much sign of rotten timbers, other than where we were expecting to find some which is immediately below the finials. The next stage is to remove the clock hands and faces so that Kevin can complete stripping the spindle supporting the weather vane and to get the carpenters to come and work out their estimates.
Kevin Bennett has finished removing the old lead. He says it was quite badly corroded in places. However, the good news is that there is not too much sign of rotten timbers, other than where we were expecting to find some which is immediately below the finials. The next stage is to remove the clock hands and faces so that Kevin can complete stripping the spindle supporting the weather vane and to get the carpenters to come and work out their estimates.
9th February 2016 - K&M Leadwork Ltd began stripping the tower of lead this morning. It appears, though we won't know until all the lead is all gone, that the timbers beneath it are, in the main, sound. See pictures below.
22nd January 2016 - The Trustees have appointed K&M Leadwork Ltd. to carry out the removal of the existing lead.
Director, Kevin Bennett is one of the highest qualified leadworkers in the area and we are delighted to have him working on this project.
This first phase of the work is planned to take place during early February, weather permitting, and will allow specialist woodworkers to inspect the timber structure that has not seen light of day for over 100 years.
Director, Kevin Bennett is one of the highest qualified leadworkers in the area and we are delighted to have him working on this project.
This first phase of the work is planned to take place during early February, weather permitting, and will allow specialist woodworkers to inspect the timber structure that has not seen light of day for over 100 years.
The Clock Tower as at 9th December
Scaffolding going up - early December
We are grateful to John Clarke for agreeing to erect the scaffolding and leave it in position until the work is complete and for a fixed price.
Unique views from the top of the scaffolding
