Older than London’s Big Ben, Palayamkottai’s historic clock is set to chime again

When antique timepiece collector Robert Kennedy and maestro clocksmith Nagaraj climbed the doorbell operation of the historical Holy Trinity Cathedral astatine Palayamkottai successful Tirunelveli territory to inspect its operation timepiece recently, they were thrilled to marque a singular discovery: the timepiece predates the Great Bell of the Great Clock astatine the Palace of Westminster, London, nicknamed Big Ben.

“Big Ben was installed successful 1859, whereas this timepiece was manufactured successful 1854 and installed successful 1855. It was made by John Moore & Sons of Clerkenwell, a renowned London-based clockmaker,” said Mr. Kennedy, who has been invited by the religion authorities to analyse the mechanics and undertake its restoration. The twelvemonth 1854 is engraved connected the clock.

The cathedral itself, built successful 1826 by Rev. C.T.E. Rhenius, precocious celebrated its bicentenary, adding further humanities value to the restoration effort. Although the timepiece continues to function, it has fallen soundless successful caller years, incapable to present its erstwhile sonorous chime owing to a method defect. Mr. Kennedy, who examined different clocks successful the country, is besides of the presumption that the Holy Trinity Cathedral timepiece could beryllium the oldest operation timepiece successful India.

After repeated but unsuccessful attempts to reconstruct the bell’s chime, the religion authorities contemplated installing a battery-operated mechanics arsenic a substitute. They approached Mr. Kennedy and, pursuing 2 months of deliberations, helium agreed to instrumentality up the situation alongside Mr. Nagaraj, with whom helium has restored galore antique clocks to their erstwhile glory. He was unequivocal successful his absorption to replacing the archetypal mechanism.

After inspecting the clock, Mr. Nagaraj recovered the responsibility laic successful the chiming section.

“Tower clocks are meant to beryllium coiled weekly; they embody a analyzable yet exquisitely engineered mechanical system. To regenerate specified craftsmanship with a battery-operated portion would magnitude to murdering the clock. I told them that if they were determined to instal a battery, they mightiness arsenic good merchantability the timepiece to me,” said Mr. Kennedy, who possesses an extended postulation of antique clocks, watches and lanterns. His postulation has antecedently been featured successful The Hindu.

Exuding confidence, Mr. Kennedy told the religion committee that the remuneration of ₹1.2 lakh should beryllium paid to Mr. Nagaraj lone if the doorbell chimes again. “We person already submitted our method report, and I americium assured that we shall reconstruct it to afloat moving order,” helium said.

Mr. Nagaraj said helium would reconstruct the timepiece to its erstwhile glory wrong a week, though helium would beryllium capable to pinpoint the precise occupation lone erstwhile enactment commenced. Given that operation clocks of that epoch were custom-built, the replacement components for the cathedral timepiece volition person to beryllium painstakingly handcrafted.

“The existent excitement begins erstwhile we commencement fabricating the parts connected the lathe. Once the enactment is complete, the timepiece volition chime again, and its dependable volition erstwhile much resonate crossed the neighbourhood,” Mr. Kennedy said, with quiescent assurance.

He said determination was a request for a broad survey of historical clocks crossed Tamil Nadu, peculiarly successful the confederate districts, observing specified treasures merit cautious documentation and preservation arsenic portion of the region’s affluent architectural heritage.