St Laurence's Church, Ludlow, Shropshire 7 September 2016
The last in a long line of mechanical clocks at St Laurence's. This one was made in 1931 by Joyce of Whitchurch, Shropshire. There has been a clock in the tower since at least 1542 since church records note that in that year a Philip Jookes was paid fourpence "for mendynge the clocke and weych". Joyce's clock was replaced with a computerised timepiece.
William Joyce started producing clocks in 1690 in Cockshutt, North Shropshire; the family moved to Whitchurch in 1790. In 1834, Thomas Joyce started producing large clocks for public buildings, including railway stations. The firm was sold to Smiths of Derby who have retained the Joyce name. It is claimed Joyce's are the oldest clock manufacturing firm in the world.
St Laurence's was built by the Normans in the late 11th Century. It was rebuilt in 1199, and there are subsequent additions and alterations in the 15th Century. Further work was done in the 19th and 20th Centuries. It is a huge church, and has been called the "Cathedral of the Marches"; its size and magnificence justify this epithet. It boasts a set of 15th Century misericords in the choir stalls on a par with those of Worcester and Gloucester cathedrals. St Laurence's has survived the depredations of the Welsh and Cromwell's roundheads. The church is not to be missed on a visit to Ludlow.
St Laurence's Church, Ludlow, Shropshire 7 September 2016
The last in a long line of mechanical clocks at St Laurence's. This one was made in 1931 by Joyce of Whitchurch, Shropshire. There has been a clock in the tower since at least 1542 since church records note that in that year a Philip Jookes was paid fourpence "for mendynge the clocke and weych". Joyce's clock was replaced with a computerised timepiece.
William Joyce started producing clocks in 1690 in Cockshutt, North Shropshire; the family moved to Whitchurch in 1790. In 1834, Thomas Joyce started producing large clocks for public buildings, including railway stations. The firm was sold to Smiths of Derby who have retained the Joyce name. It is claimed Joyce's are the oldest clock manufacturing firm in the world.
St Laurence's was built by the Normans in the late 11th Century. It was rebuilt in 1199, and there are subsequent additions and alterations in the 15th Century. Further work was done in the 19th and 20th Centuries. It is a huge church, and has been called the "Cathedral of the Marches"; its size and magnificence justify this epithet. It boasts a set of 15th Century misericords in the choir stalls on a par with those of Worcester and Gloucester cathedrals. St Laurence's has survived the depredations of the Welsh and Cromwell's roundheads. The church is not to be missed on a visit to Ludlow.