Cotehele clock

The Cotehele clock is situated at Cotehele House, Saltash, Cornwall. It is the earliest turret clock in the United Kingdom still working in an unaltered state and in its original position. It was probably installed between 1493 and 1521.

The first chapel at Cotehele House dates from around 1411, but only parts of the north and south wall of the original building survive.

Piers Edgcumbe inherited Cotehele House in 1489. He married Joan Durnford in 1493 and she died in 1521. He remarried in 1525. Two important altarpieces commemorate the union of Edgcumbe and Durnford, so it is likely that the building work on the chapel was carried out during the early years of their marriage from 1493 onward. The alcove that houses the clock was added into the west wall of the chapel (the plan below has north on the right, so the west wall is at the top of the drawing). The 2004 building report states that the west wall was probably rebuilt during the work carried out on the chapel. It is thus likely that the clock was installed at the chapel between 1493 and 1521, with more probability towards the earlier date.

The clock is acknowledged to be the earliest turret clock in the United Kingdom still working in an unaltered state and in its original position. It has no face, but is attached to a bell which strikes the hour.

Unlike its contemporaries, the Cotehele clock was never converted to pendulum, which makes it the oldest original verge escapement and foliot clock in the world. Other clocks with this claim, such as the Salisbury cathedral clock, were converted and later retrofitted with a verge & foliot.

As the construction dates of the Salisbury and the Wells Cathedral clocks are disputed (they are most likely early 16th century clocks), the Cotehele Clock may well be the oldest working turret clock in the world. Even though large numbers of turret clocks were installed in the 14th century, none of them survived. The unique circumstances at Cotehele house assured that the clock was not replaced and scrapped.

This alcove appears to be purpose-built for the clock as it has a chimney-like chute that goes up to the bell and has just the right dimensions for the clock, the weights, and the double-pulley system. It is unlikely that a second-hand clock would have been procured for such a splendid new building. Also, the clock is in very similar style to those at Castle Combe and Marston Magna.

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Wikipedia