WINDING THE CLOCKS
WINDING THE CLOCKS
By Wendy Babiolakis
There are currently six clocks in the Collection although not necessarily on display at the same time.
The Collection’s clocks range from small carriage clocks to a long case clock. Clocks are wound weekly even though some are eight-day clocks. Most of the clocks gain or lose time over the week but in an effort to keep handling to a minimum, the times are never adjusted.
Compared with the clock winding procedure at say, Chatsworth, this is not an onerous task. Chatsworth has sixteen clocks on their visitor route and more behind the scenes. Their collection ranges from small carriage clocks to elaborate gilt mantle clocks and even includes the large Stables clock which is wound every other day and keeps Chatsworth ticking over.
Although moving clocks is not advisable, the nature of our exhibitions and installations do require changes of position from time to time. When a move is needed, the clocks are stopped, usually by simply stopping the pendulum. The clock is carefully moved to the new position ensuring that the surface is level, otherwise it will impact on the movement. The chiming of a clock is a very pleasant sound to hear, something we don’t realise is missing from our day, until we hear it on a visit to Fairhall.
This article was first published in fairhall, Issue 11, March 2014, pp 23.
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