Town clock repair bid

MOVES to get the Lewes Town Clock ticking for the first time in three years are slowly progressing.

Cllr Ruth O'Keeffe has been battling to get the ancient mechanism on the tower of the church hall adjacent to St Michael's Church back on time for at least two years.

The clock seized up as a result of bird droppings and other contamination in 2002. It was cleaned but went wrong again a few months later.

It has stood at noon ever since.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Cllr O'Keeffe has applied for Heritage Lottery funding but has been told at least two firm tenders are needed before the bid can even be considered.

'We are building up funds for our share of the costs but we also need that Lottery funding,' she said.

It would cost around 35,000 to get the clock back in pristine condition, complete with chiming mechanism and re-gilding of the clock face.

It could be put back into basic working order for around 20,000.