Conservation Project, Ex Birch Hill Hospital, Rochdale.

27/10/2016

Three of our clockmakers, Steve, Peter and Matthew have recently finished a conservation project for Persimmon PLC.

Persimmon had to sympathetically restore and convert the old Birch Hill Hospital and Clock Tower. Time Assured were asked to restore the clock and dials. Unfortunately when we arrived on site for the site survey, it became apparent that the original movement was no longer on site. It was decided that new electric movements would be fitted and an Automatic Restart Unit to make sure the clocks kept to the correct time and changedat the summer and winter time changes. We have also fitted LED lights behind the dials.

The four dials were 7′-0″ diameter skeleton dials and glazed with a mixture of glass and perspex. All the original dial glazing was chipped out, and templates taken for the new glazing panels. The dials were suitably cleaned to a stable surface for painting. The dials were then primed, undercoated and two top coats of paint.

New perspex glazing panels were installed and sealed using a mastic system. New electric movements, LED lights and an Automatic Restart unit installed.