North Tawton clocktower repaired

North Tawton residents gathered around the town's iconic structure to witness the unveiling of the newly repaired clocktower roof skirt.

Transcript

00:00Good morning everyone and Carol thank you for your kind words. The sun is shining, great.

00:13Okay our magnificent clock tower has been at the heart of North Torton since 1887. It's

00:21not only part of our town's heritage but the focal point of our community. It was erected

00:28by public subscription to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Queen Victoria's accession

00:35to the throne. The foundation stone down here was laid 137 years ago yesterday on Tuesday

00:47the 21st of June 1887 by a Mrs Hole. This is the commemorative trowel that Mrs Hole

00:56was given. The trowel has also confirmed the correct title for the clock tower. It should

01:04be called the Jubilee Memorial. The Jubilee Memorial was designed by Robert Medley Fulford

01:12an Exeter architect who had North Torton connections and was built by Mr Samuel Ellis a local builder

01:20for the princely price of £137. This monument has stood through two world wars and the whole

01:32reign of Queen Victoria's great-great-granddaughter Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Its image

01:40features on the logos of our town council, the primary school and many local businesses.

01:48When the Queen died on Thursday the 8th of September 2022 the country was in a state

01:54of shock. This was further compounded in our community when on Friday the 9th of September

02:02the lower roof of the Jubilee Memorial collapsed at the southwest corner. Surveys established

02:11that water ingress had caused decay to the southwest strut tenon which is mortised into

02:19the stone buttress. This is the tenon and this is the buttress. Sadly this type of damage

02:25was not covered by the insurance. As a resident of North Torton I heard myths and misinformation

02:33circulating about the clock tower and the lich gate to St Peter's Church which also

02:39needed repairs. I decided to approach my neighbour Alec Ranford. Where's Alec?

02:45Over there. I had a moan at him not realising he was a councillor. Anyway I spoke to him to

02:54try and establish the truth. The town council had pledged a significant amount of money towards the

02:59repairs of both landmarks but there was still a significant shortfall. A funding bid to the

03:06Heritage Lottery Fund was also unsuccessful. I shared some ideas with Alec and before I knew it

03:13I was introduced to our town clerk Melanie Bickle. I supported the council with a fundraising campaign

03:21aimed at residents and businesses. The fundraising target was achieved quite quickly demonstrating

03:28people's desire to do their part to preserve these valuable town assets for future generations. The

03:36renovation work was completed by Heritage Crafts people in full consultation with Conservation

03:43Officer and Planning. Rocking timber has been replaced, old lime mortar removed and the bricks

03:51repointed. Modifications have been made to the lead work to help prevent future water ingress

03:59and an external power supply has been fitted for our Christmas tree.