ALL TICK-ETY BOO AFTER 30 YEARS!
A grand old pub clock that hasn’t worked since the 1980s is finally telling the correct time.
The clock, which sits at the top of the Dun Cow in High Street West, has been a landmark of Sunderland’s city centre since the pub was built in 1902. But its hands had stood still for more than three decades.
Now, after specialist help was recruited from a renowned clock company, it has been restored to its former glory.
The clock’s restoration is part of £760,000 worth of work being carried out at the Dun Cow and its sister pub The Peacock over the road.
The funds needed to repair the Grade-II listed bars have been provided by owners Leighton Management, Sunderland City Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The dual-faced clock is still largely obscured by scaffolding which will be removed in early 2020, but is still required for other work to the roofing and stonework.
The repair was carried out by the Cumbria Clock Company, a Penrith-based specialist who work on prestigious timepieces, such as those at Hampton Court Palace and Salisbury Cathedral.
The company’s turret clockmaker, Terry Hill, has 40 years of experience on such projects and oversaw the Dun Cow’s dials being put into place.
He said: “It went very well.
“It was a late finish, but we got it working.
“There was some paintwork needed to finish it off with gold leaf.
“There are three guilded rings on each dial.
“The dials are cast iron and glazed with perspex.
“We carried the faces up inside the building then on to the scaffold.
“We’re delighted that such a lovely clock is up and working again.”
Cumbria Clock Company’s technical sales manager, Keith Cotton added: “It was a very nice project to be involved with and we’re glad that a clock that hadn’t worked in over 30 years is now ticking again.
“It’s great to know that people are pleased with the work we’ve done and that it’s working again after all this time.”
The Dun Cow and Peacock are open for business as usual.