The one handed clock in the tower of Saint Michael's Church Coningsby village is the largest of its kind in the world. On a clear day the time can be read two miles away, or so I am told.
It was built in the 17th Century, when single handed clocks were quite common. Very few survived.
The clock face is 16.5ft in diameter and its hand is nearly 9ft long. The pendulum is 13 ft long with a swing every 2 seconds.
The clock weights are large blocks of stone. The frame is good old English oak. The whole mechanism is described as beautifully made and similar to a clock in Exeter Cathedral.
Records of the winding of the clock go back to 1780.
About 1800 the Church Authorities paid £2 per year to wind the clock.
The striking, which takes place on the hour, was suspended for the duration of the last war, and the clock winder, at that time was made redundant.
Today Mr. Peter Bass winds the clock every day including Christmas Day. He climbs the 35 steps to the winding mechanism. In the twenty years he has been the official clock winder, together with the previous 20 years his father carried out the work they have climbed over half a million steps.
Until recently Mr. Jim Sandel has stood in for Peter whilst he takes a holiday, unfortunately following a heart attack Jim has been advised not to continue with this hobby and Mr. Bill Stennett has volunteered to wind the clock so thankfully it will continue to tick away the minutes!.
The servicing and repairs to the clock are undertaken by Edmund Czajkowski & Son Ltd of Woodhall Spa. All upkeep of the clock and wages for the clock winding are met by Coningsby Town Council