Clock work to get village back in time
CIVIC Pride Rossendale are leading on a project to restore a defunct village clock to full working order.
Volunteers Roger Shuttleworth and Peter Harris recently undertook the task of building a scaffolding tower under the feature in the centre of Crawshawbooth – which has now been taken away for repairs.
The clock, which is larger than it looks when you start manhandling it, was filthy, rusty and had some rotten wood within the construction, but there is a clock face on both sides, with two separate clock mechanisms and hands.
Once renovation is complete the plan is to reinstall it once again in its original position on the corner of Burnley Road and Hill Street, opposite the Black Dog.
Chair Sue Shuttleworth told the Free Press she did not know much about the history of the clock or how long it has been out of action, but they are hoping its restoration will be a boost to local pride.
Sue said: “We have had permission off the council to go ahead and they confirmed there is an electric supply.
“We want to smarten it up and look like people care.
“There’s nothing worse than a clock that doesn’t work, and people will tell stories they used to use it all the time such as for catching the bus. Hopefully we will get some stories out of it.”
Sue says two new radio controlled electric clock movements have been sourced, along with a power supply that will run them both – which will be paid for by Hazelwood Homecare.
“Also some new ‘bushes’ are required to go on the original clock hands, so that they can be attached to the new motors,” she said.
“These are now on order. While waiting for these, the clock has been cleaned, and is undergoing cleaning as much of the rust off as possible.
“The next step will be repainting the casing of the clock in black.”
The perspex covering the two clock faces was too badly discoloured so these have been replaced by new perspex.
Director Ryan Godwin, on behalf of everyone at Hazelwood Homecare, said: “The perspex which Roger has managed to cut up and use to replace the existing perspex covering the clock faces, has been recycled from a screen we previously used to as a barrier during the Covid pandemic. It is a privilege to be able to assist in any way to help Civic Pride achieve their ambition – which is to improve our community.
“The work done by the volunteers is making the clock work again and they are taking enormous care and attention to detail to getting the clock back to its rightful position.”