I've raised £11000 to make urgent repairs to the Queen Victoria Jubilee Clock and St. Peter's Church Lych Gate, North Tawton, West Devon, United Kingdom.
Organised by Grahame Flynn
Story
I am delighted to announce that our Fundraising Target of £40,000 has been achieved so that rennovation work can start on our Clock Tower and then the Church Lych Gate.
North Tawton Town Council has pledged £29,000 and the remaining £11,000 has been raised through JustGiving and donations by cheque and BACS.
If you would like to make a donation you can still do so and any monies given will be 'restricted' for the ongoing maintenance of our beloved Clock Tower and the Lych Gate.
This page will be closed at the end of September.
I would like to thank everyone who supported our campaign. Work has already commenced to replace the roof to the Clock Tower and sympathetically renovate the whole structure. Once completed work will start on the Lych Gate.
Grahame Flynn, Appeal Coordinator.
The story:
2023 marked the 136th Birthday of one of North Tawton’s most historic landmarks.
Situated at the very heart of North Tawton is The Queen Victoria Jubilee Clock. The clock tower was erected in the town square by public subscription in 1887 at a cost of £130 to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria on 21st June 1887.
On the Friday 9 September 2022 disaster struck, when the lower roof of the Jubilee Clock collapsed at the south-west corner.
Two surveys have been conducted by a Conservation Accredited Engineer which established the cause of the collapse.
the collapse was due to the failure of the decayed south-west strut tenon mortised into the stone buttress.
The Clock Tower was insured but there were two restrictions to the cover. These being damage due to war or rot. Sadly, a claim cannot be made against the insurance as the damage was caused by decay.
An Outline Schedule of Repairs has been prepared which includes numerous repairs to the structure which should stop future water ingress and preserve the clock for many years to come.
The total cost of the repairs is £30,000 but North Tawton Town Council have pledged £24,000 towards the repair costs which leaves a shortfall of £6,000.
An application for funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund was submitted. However, on 3rd May the National Lottery decided not to award a grant towards the project because they considered that it would not achieve their outcomes well enough to justify a grant. In particular, they felt that their mandatory outcome to engage a wider range of people with heritage would not be sufficiently achieved. Naturally this was very disappointing news.
The Town Council has established a Fundraising Committee which is looking at many ways that we can support the appeal with the help of local residents, businesses and property developers in the town.
Whilst reviewing our town's heritage we have also identified that the St. Peter’s Church Lych Gate is also at risk.
The St.Peter's churchyard was closed to burials in 1902 after a new cemetery opening at the top of Exeter Street in 1901. North Tawton Town Council looks after the grass and tree cutting and path repair, among other duties, having taken over the role in 1940 from the parochial church council on request and after the churchyard closed for burials in the 1900s.
On Friday 24 March 2023 it was noted at the Town Council meeting that the maintenance and repair has become ‘disproportionately large’ and the council should investigate the possibility of asking West Devon and Devon county councils to take over the role, but first to seek support from senior Church of England staff locally first. This work is ongoing.
The Lych Gate is rotting badly and rennovation works have been costed as £10,000. North Tawton Town Council has set aside £5,000 for repairs which leaves a shortfall of £5,000.
Naturally, the Town Council has prioritised its budget to concentrate on funding projects which benefit the local community and needs our help make up the shortfall.
Our fundraising target is £11,000 which will enable both of these historic landmarks to be preserved for future generations.
It has never been more important to do your bit to support North Tawton’s heritage. We know that everyone has been hit by the ongoing energy and cost of living crisis but collectively we can all make a difference. Please support the appeal with a donation.
