24 www.wendover-news.co.uk October 2012
Wendover Parish Council Page
Matters Arising The History of the Clock Tower into the piers which supported the roof. The launch of a public fund was In 1842, by order of the Lord of the These were then lined with cast iron to Manor, Abel Smith, the old Towne take the weight. The fire engine was House which had fallen into disrepair only kept at the Clock Tower for seven years, but the bell of was demolished and the the clock was used Market House built. The to summon the fire original Market House brigade for many was twenty one feet years. square with a stumpy brick tower capped with a For the next 100 turret and weather vane. years the Clock A year later, a three faced Tower had no clock and chiming bell specific purpose were added at a cost of The Market House pre 1870 except as a time £90, raised entirely by keeper for the people of Wendover. Mr public subscription. Earnest Sharp who owned the clock In 1870 Philip Smith, who had shop in the High Street wound the clock succeeded his father as Lord of the from 1896 to 1926. The two great Manor, extended the Market House weights which drive the clock and the tower giving us the present day Clock hourly chiming mechanism have a Tower. The design, by W illiam vertical travel of 25 feet, weekly winding Wilkinson of Oxford, added 10 feet to reduces this by half. the height of the tower, included a drinking fountain, a horse trough and a In 1962 the building was officially Lockup ‘as a terror to evildoers’ and presented to the Parish Council by stocks (which were later moved to the Philip Smith’s great nephew, Lionel Abel Manor Waste). The existing clock made Smith, and is now a Grade 2 Listed by Field and Sons of Aylesbury was Building. installed at this time. The three faces were illuminated with open gas burners After 142 years the bell tower has at regular intervals around the outside of developed a slight lean. As a consequence we are in the process of the dial! organising the renovation of the clock Later in 1870 the Fire Brigade moved mechanism and the rebuilding of the into the Clock Tower. The building was upper part of the tower. Although there not wide enough to accommodate the is no hurry we hope to have the work width of the hand pumped, horse drawn completed next year. fire engine so horizontal slots were cut
mentioned last month and we hope the community is willing to take part and organise events to help swell the fund coffee mornings, a quiz, a beetle drive, etc. anything which is interesting and good fun. The project to raise awareness about the Clock Tower and its history will include two leaflets and a worksheet for children. Information is available on the new website – www.wendoverclocktower.org.uk As we have an article on the history of the Clock Tower this month the Chairman has kindly donated his space to raising the profile of this important project
Chiltern Railways At September’s Parish Council meeting the Councillors wished to acknowledge publicly the superb service provided by Chiltern Railways during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Extra trains were put into service and late trains were held to ensure customers could get to their destinations, even the late returners leaving Marylebone around 2 . 0 0 am f o l l o wi n g t he O p e n i n g Ceremony! Well done the staff at Chiltern Railways, your efforts have been very much appreciated.
Local Produce Market Manor Waste 9am to 1pm Saturday 20 October
Wendover Parish Council, The Clock Tower, High Street, Wendover, HP22 6DU www.wendover-pc.gov.uk
clerk@wendover-pc.gov.uk
01296 623056
Community Information Office
tourism@wendover-pc.gov.uk
01296 696759
SUNDAY CHURCH SERVICES for OCTOBER 2012 WENDOVER FREE CHURCH, AYLESBURY ROAD 11.00am Morning Worship ST. ANNE’S ROMAN CATHOLIC, AYLESBURY ROAD 9.15am Sunday Mass; Confessions11.00am Saturdays HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH, HALTON : 10.30 am ST. MARY’S CHURCH OF ENGLAND 8.00am Holy Communion 1st Sunday at St Mary’s, thereafter St Anne’s 9.00am Holy Communion & 10.30am Varied Family Services & Jnr. Church
St MICHAEL’S C of E HALTON: 6.00pm Service every Sunday For more about church services, courses and meetings, visit the Churches Together Office:
@stmary’s, 11 High Street, HP22 5DU 01296 623123 10 am - 12.30pm each weekday
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