Prior Castell's Clock is an astronomical clock in Durham Cathedral.
History and description
The clock was placed in the cathedral between 1494 and 1519, during the tenure of Prior Thomas Castell. Dean Richard Hunt renovated it between 1620 and 1638.
It was originally on the east side of the rood screen, but was moved in 1593 to its current location in the south transept.
In 1845, Dean George Waddington removed the clock case from the cathedral. A main part of the clock case was given to Pittington Hallgarth Church in 1847. The clock mechanism was fixed in a blank window.
Parts of it were rediscovered in 1936 and Dean Cyril Alington launched a campaign to restore it. Mr. J. Armstrong from London, an expert in paint, was engaged in removing the layers of paint down to the original colouring.
In 1969 the cathedral installed a new heating system which caused the wooden supports for the clock to dry out and crack. Metal bands were put round the supports to prevent the clock from falling.
References
- "Prior Castell's Clock". Durham World Heritage Site.
- Stranks, C. J. (1973). This Sumptuous Church: the story of Durham Cathedral London.
- "Old clock case". Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette. England. 10 June 1937. Retrieved 1 January 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- "Clock case that is unique. Durham Cathedral Restoration. Dean Searched Two Years for Parts". Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette. England. 28 May 1936. Retrieved 1 January 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- "Time is saved as cathedral heats up". Newcastle Evening Chronicle. England. 12 June 1969. Retrieved 1 January 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
| Astronomical clocks | ||
|---|---|---|
| Czech Republic |  | |
| France | ||
| Germany | ||
| Italy | ||
| Switzerland | ||
| United Kingdom | ||
| Other countries | ||
| Clockmakers and designers | ||
 Commons | ||