Saturday, April 22, 2017

BRIGG BUTTERCROSS: THANKFULLY THE BELL HAS NOT TOLLED FOR HISTORIC CLOCK


FROM CHRIS O'ROURKE, COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL

We've done a bit of digging into the history of the Buttercross clock.
As you know, it was 200 years ago this year that building work started on what is now the Buttercross. 
It is thought that the building has always had a clock; indeed, a picture from 1850 shows the building with a clock.
Interestingly, there also used to be a bell at the other end of the building that was linked to the clock and would chime on the hour (or thereabouts - within 15 minutes either way  in the latter days of its life). 
The bell developed a large crack and would apparently sound like more of a clang so the bell and all its supporting beams were removed shortly before the building's major £600,000 refurbishment in 1989.
During the refurbishment the clock was also removed and taken to C and F Build Ltd of Haxey who repaired the clock and returned it to the Buttercross in 1990.
After its recent stop, it was been fixed this week by one of the council's in-house maintenance team. No special parts were needed as it was just an electrical fault. Which begs the question: when was the mechanism for the clock electrified?
That we don't know - perhaps when it was reinstalled in '91? 
Maybe your readers know more...

NF ADDS: If you can answer the question Chris poses, or have other relevant information, post a comment here or email scoopfisher@aol.com if you prefer.

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