The "Victory Clock"

The Victory Clock Mechanism

The Clock was built by Smiths of Derby who have serviced it continually since it was installed in 1923.  It cost £146 and was paid for by local donations.  The purpose of the Clock was to be a memorial to the young men from Exbourne who died in the 1914-18 war.  Smiths of Derby stopped making this model of clock for a while but have started making it again and the cost today would be £250,000.   The Hatherleigh Silver Band played at the ceremony when the Clock was installed and they played again on Sunday 13th August 2023 to celebrate the Clock's centenary.  

The Hatherleigh Silver Band Performing in 2023

To sound the hours and quarters the Clock strikes some of the bells which are situated on the floor above the clock room.  Two bells are used for the quarters and another one for the hours.  When the bells are being rung  for services or practices the strikers are fixed back to avoid any possible entanglement.   For many years the Clock's winding mechanism was wound by hand every week.  This was hard work and quite risky.  Around 2007 it was decided to electrify the winding mechanism in part due to an incident when the weights fell through the ceiling narrowly missing a bellringer standing below. 

The electric motors that wind the clock weights back up.

The Clock is completely original only now the winding is carried out by electric motors instead of by hand.  A battery back-up takes over if there is an interruption to the power.

The Clock Weights

The clock face is situated in the  south side of the tower & stands above the main entrance to the Church.

The Main Entrance & Church Tower,

In my opinion, as The Victory Clock is a war memorial, it is very important that what it represents and it's history is remembered and cherished by our Community.

Sheila White