Clock and Tower
For many Northleach residents, the clock chimes from Northleach church are a constant old friend, observing the passage of time.
Due to health and safety, very few people are lucky to access the tower and roof these days.
It is reached through a small door and up a spiral staircase. The first room is ringing chamber, where bell ringers now and through the years have been stationed to ring the church bells for occasions such as weddings, memorials etc.
We now move to the interior of the Tower though a tall opening with finely moulded arch and jambs and a good view of the west window. This window floods the church interior with evening sun.
The tower was completed in ca. 1400 and is possibly contemporary with the Chancel, linked to it by an original and narrower nave. John Fortey's wider nave means that the corner buttresses on the east face of the tower project somewhat uncomfortably into the north and south aisles.
To your left (or south) is a door giving access to a spiral stair-flight leading to the ringing chamber, clock chamber, belfry and - eventually, after 105 steps - to the tower roof 100 feet above you.
The Clock
Next up the spiral staircase is the clock chamber. The “new” clock, by Smiths of Derby was installed in 1907.
The new clock has a flat-bed three train movement. It was partially electrified in 1964 for the quarter chimes and strike, but the going train still required manual winding once a week. Automatic winding was finally introduced in 1996, much to the relief of those who had previously wound the clock by hand.
The clock has two skeleton dials on the north and south faces, seven feet in diameter, and provision for a third dial on the east face facing the town. It used to be said the omission of this dial was due to an unwillingness of the town to contribute to the cost - and so it remains.
The clock has a carillon that plays three verses of the hymn tune 'Hanover' (0 Worship the King) every 3 hours at 3, 6, 9 and 12, every day of the year. Between the quarter chimes, strike and carillon, there are a total of 2,460 bell strokes in every 24 hour period. If you live in the town, it is something that you become so used to that you don't hear it - until, that is, the clock stops for some reason. As soon as that happens, the churchwarden's telephone starts ringing!
It replaced an earlier clock that dated from around 1700, the remains of which (now missing its pendulum and weights) can be seen in the North Chapel. It had no face, but struck the quarters and the hours using a new peal of six bells. There was also a carillon which played a tune regularly.
Bell Chamber
Going further up the spiral stair case is the bell chamber itself, housing the eight bells. Finally further up, a small door provides access to the roof with stunning views across the town of Northleach and neighbouring Cotswold villages.
The church has a fine ring of eight bells with a chime every 15 mins, using the quarter chimes composed for Holy Trinity, Guildford in 1843. Every 3 hours (3,6,9 and 12) the carillon using the eight bells plays three verses of “O Worship the King. Based on Psalm 104, the melody is named “Hanover” and is composed by William Croft (1678-1727).
Why does the tune play even at midnight, 3am and 6am? It’s a question visitors to Northleach (especially those staying overnight!) often ask. The main reason is that it is a 12 hour clock which doesn’t take into account 24 hours, therefore the midday, 3pm and 6pm, 9pm chimes are repeated through the wee small hours.