Cotehele clock

It is the earliest turret clock in the United Kingdom still working in an unaltered state and in its original position.

The first chapel at Cotehele House dates from around 1411, but only parts of the north and south wall of the original building survive.

Two important altarpieces commemorate the union of Edgcumbe and Durnford, so it is likely that the building work on the chapel was carried out during the early years of their marriage from 1493 onward.

The 2004 building report states that the west wall was probably rebuilt during the work carried out on the chapel.

According to Cecil Clutton, the pinions were considered worn, but satisfactory, and they were left as found.

The strike release mechanism was replaced during this overhaul, as the lever in place is stamped T&R and dated.

The verge suspension also appears to be of newer date and looks similar in style to the new strike mechanism.

A conservation project was undertaken to return the clock and bells to working order in time for the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II in June 2002.

If the weights are adjusted correctly, the clock tells accurate time to within a couple of minutes per day.

Theoretically, the rope could be wound 24 times around the barrel without having to layer it, thus enabling the clock to run for a full day and night without winding.

It is interesting that if the great wheel had 96 teeth instead of 95, the gear ratio would have been a lot more logical and would have resulted in exactly 12 seconds for a double swing.

This points again to a manufacturing date in the late 15th century, as minutes and seconds were not used in clock making and only the concept of an hour was known.

The great wheel of the striking train has 78 teeth and 8 pins that operate the bell lever.

There are a couple of factors that influence the accuracy of the Cotehele Clock: Considering that sundial time varies +- 15 minutes throughout the year, the Cotehele clock was a perfect instrument for measuring time in the 15th and 16th century.