Work completed on restoration of 18th Century Clock Tower at Blenheim Palace
After battling high winds, rain, and extreme heat, workers at Blenheim Palace have now completed the restoration of the 18th century Clock Tower at the entrance to the Great Courtyard, which houses a rare timepiece made by renowned clockmaker Langley Bradley.
A joint project between the Built Heritage and Palace Collections teams at Blenheim Palace, the seven-week restoration programme involved historic clock restoration specialists, The Cumbria Clock Company, Apex Scaffolding of Northampton, and John Naysmith of The Oxford Iron Company, who oversaw the painting of the clock face and the regilding of the clock hands and numerals, as well as the decorative golden sphere on the top of the tower, which took over a thousand sheets of gold leaf alone to cover.
The project was led by Chris Monaghan, Clerk of Works in the Blenheim Palace Built Heritage team, and Carmen Alvarez, Blenheim Palace Collections and Conservation Manager.
Chris Monaghan commented: “This has truly been a real team effort. The clock tower is now looking wonderful, back to working order with its beautiful Capri Blue clock faces, 23.5 carat gold numerals and surround, and a golden sphere that will shine for many years to come. It was a fantastic project to be part of, working with some amazing people to make it all come together in the end.”
He added: “John Naysmith’s work was carried out in some difficult conditions; we started with quite high winds that were causing too much draft whilst stripping the old paint and gold from the clock faces, and then we also had some extremely warm days where it would start to dry base layers too quickly for the gilding or painting to take place. There were also days of terrible sudden downpours of rain that penetrated through the scaffold wrap while the new painting process was underway.”
The clock in the tower is considered the finest surviving example of the craftsmanship of renowned clockmaker Langley Bradley. The movement, dated 1710, was made just a year after Bradley completed his masterpiece at St Paul’s Cathedral. The Blenheim installation includes several distinctive features known to have appeared in the St Paul’s clock, such as finely-turned corner posts and fleur-de-lys motifs on various train bars. No other surviving Bradley clocks are known to incorporate these and other unique details.
For more information about the project visit, www.blenheimpalace.com/restoration/projects/clock-tower-restoration.html
For opening times and to purchase tickets to the visitor attraction please visit, www.blenheimpalace.com
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For more information, contact Jon Perks at Campaign, A Cab Studio – [email protected]
About Blenheim Palace
Home to the Dukes of Marlborough since 1705, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Blenheim Palace is set in over 2,000 acres of ‘Capability’ Brown landscaped parkland and is the birthplace of one of Britain’s most famous leaders, Sir Winston Churchill.
With over 300 years of history to share and one of the most important and extensive collections in Europe, Blenheim Palace is not only an iconic part of history, but also a living, changing experience with a wealth of sporting and cultural events, themed exhibitions and tours all year around.
A short miniature train ride away from the Palace is the Walled Garden, which boasts interactive areas entirely dedicated for families to explore including Adventure Play and the Rowse Honey Hive, The Marlborough Maze and Butterfly House. With curated events, an exciting programme of annual activities, entertainment and dedicated eateries for families, these areas guarantee a memorable family day out.
Beyond the grounds and an array of Formal Gardens, the total Estate expands into a further 10,000 acres and focuses on care for the land through sustainable means, pursuing net zero, the growth of the local economy, the provision of affordable homes, apprenticeship training and supported community groups.
Blenheim Palace is Britain’s Greatest Palace.
