ÿþ<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> <HTML> <HEAD> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <title>Clockhouse Bell Tower - the renovation - Hidden Horsham</title> <meta name="keywords" content="Bell Tower, Hidden Horsham, Francis Frith, Horsham photos"> <meta name="description" content="Bell tower in Black Horse Way. Photos on Hidden Horsham reveal architectural and structural detail that the eye normally misses."> <link rel="icon" href="favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon"> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="http://www.hiddenhorsham.co.uk/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon"> <link rel="Stylesheet" href="/styles/style.css" type="text/css"> </HEAD> <BODY> <A NAME="TOP"></A> <TABLE CLASS="wideness"><TR><TD> <A HREF="/index.htm"> <IMG SRC="/images/topbanner.jpg" alt="click to go to the home page" border=0> </A> </TD> </TR> <TR><TD><iframe class=head scrolling="no" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="/menu/menuhh.htm"></iframe></TD></TR> <TR> <TD> <TABLE ALIGN="right" border=0> <TR> <TD class=strip></TD> <TD VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="120"> <IFRAME class=menu SCROLLING="no" FRAMEBORDER="0" MARGINHEIGHT="0" MARGINWIDTH="0" SRC="/menu/menu.htm"></IFRAME> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> <H2>Hidden Horsham - Clockhouse Bell Tower</H2> <TABLE ALIGN=LEFT> <TR><TD> <A HREF="/images/hh/full/5.jpg" target="_blank"> <IMG class=edge SRC="/images/hh/page/5.jpg" alt="Hidden Horsham Bell Tower - before" width=140 height=256 border=0></A> </TD><TD> <A HREF="/images/hh/full/5l.jpg" target="_blank"> <IMG class=edge SRC="/images/hh/page/5l.jpg" alt="Hidden Horsham Bell Tower - after" width=140 height=256 border=0></A> </TD></TR> <TR><TD><P class=c>Before</P></TD><TD><P class=c>After</P></TD></TR> </TABLE> <P>This is a curious bell tower or cupola located on the Clockhouse building in Blackhorse Way in Horsham, directly above the Clockhouse Podiatry clinic. The bell is still there with a weather vane on top. The tower is visible from the ground or from the nearby car park. In the spring of 2007 the bell tower underwent extensive maintenance. The bell and tower were removed and comprehensive renovation took place and were replaced on Thursday 15<SUP>th</SUP> March 2007. This feature documents that work and the return of the tower to the roof of the Clockhouse</P> <P>This cupola was <A HREF="/5/5a.htm">first featured</A> on Hidden Horsham in the spring of 2006 when comments were made about the need for renovation</P> <P>The clockhouse was originally part of the <A HREF="/81/hewellsmanor.htm">Manor of Hewells</A> opposite, recently the RSPCA headquarters, now houses and apartments. It was formerly the groom's quarters and coach house for the stable block to the left of the Clockhouse building, now the dentist surgery. Note the two coach entrances now bricked up except for doorways</P> <TABLE BORDER=0 class=thumbs> <TR><TD><A HREF="/images/hh/full/5b.jpg" target="_blank"> <IMG class=edge SRC="/images/hh/page/5b.jpg" alt="Hidden Horsham, the underside of the tower during renovation" width=295 height=221 border=0 align=left></A></TD> <TD><A HREF="/images/hh/full/5c.jpg" target="_blank"> <IMG class=edge SRC="/images/hh/page/5c.jpg" alt="Hidden Horsham, Close-up of the lead work during renovation" width=295 height=221 border=0 align=left></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD><P class=c>underside of the tower</P></TD><TD><P class=c>The dome during renovation</P></TD></TR> </TABLE> <P>Hidden Horsham was alerted to the renovation project when scaffolding was erected at the front of the building. Only through the help and support of the Clockhouse Podiatry team, the landlords agent J E Marchington FRICS, the main building contractors Cox and the renovation team at Nigel Carpenter's workshop this story can be told. Links to those can be found below in the external links boxout</P> <TABLE BORDER=0 class=thumbs> <TR><TD><A HREF="/images/hh/full/5d.jpg" target="_blank"> <IMG class=edge SRC="/images/hh/page/5d.jpg" alt="Hidden Horsham, one of the old legs showing signs of rotting" width=295 height=393 border=0 align=left></A></TD> <TD><A HREF="/images/hh/full/5e.jpg" target="_blank"> <IMG class=edge SRC="/images/hh/page/5e.jpg" alt="Hidden Horsham, Close-up of one of the replacement legs" width=295 height=393 border=0 align=left></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD><P class=c>A rotting leg</P></TD><TD><P class=c>A new leg in close-up</P></TD></TR> </TABLE> <P>The process of renovating the bell and tower began in January 2007 and was completed by the end of March of the same year. The clock face is the subject of a separate project and no timescale is known for that. There are no plans to make the clock functional again although the mechanism is still situated in the roof space</P> <TABLE BORDER=0 class=thumbs> <TR><TD><A HREF="/images/hh/full/5f.jpg" target="_blank"> <IMG class=edge SRC="/images/hh/page/5f.jpg" alt="Hidden Horsham, the bell after cleaning" width=295 height=393 border=0 align=left></A></TD> <TD><A HREF="/images/hh/full/5g.jpg" target="_blank"> <IMG class=edge SRC="/images/hh/page/5g.jpg" alt="Hidden Horsham, the weather vane" width=295 height=393 border=0 align=left></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD><P class=c>The bell after lime blasting</P></TD><TD><P class=c>The restored weather vane</P></TD></TR> </TABLE> <P>Prior to the renovation the weight of the tower was reduced by removing the lead roof. It was then lifted down the scaffolding and taken away. The supporting roof structure was repaired in readiness for the return of the cupola and bell. The tower was dismantled in the workshop and had new leadwork installed on the roof and base plate. The new legs were turned to match the originals but the profiling changed to improve the drainage of water; something that was thought to have increased the ageing of the originals. New wooden arches have been fabricated to link the six legs together under the roofline. The leadwork around the base of the legs improved upon the original design and should prevent water ingress. When it was removed the tower had wires to give it support, these can be seen in the photographs in the <A HREF="/5/5a.htm">original article</A>. The new tower is has been built so that these wires are no longer needed; the legs being dowelled into the base rather than nailed to it</P> <TABLE BORDER=0 class=thumbs><TR> <TD><A HREF="http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=51.062082~-0.329662&style=h&lvl=18&scene=1915478" target="_blank" class="opac" ><IMG SRC="/images/hh/aerial/a5.jpg" alt="aerial view" border=0></TD> <TD> <TD><A HREF="/images/hh/full/5a.jpg" class="opac" target="_blank"><IMG SRC="/images/hh/thumbs/5a.jpg" alt="Hidden Horsham Clockhouse" border=0></A></TD> <TD></TD> <TD></TD> </TR></TD></TABLE> <P>The bell, estimated at 200Kg was removed by four men carrying it down the scaffolding. It was removed to Cleaning Consultants where it was restored to its original colour by blasting it with a lime mix. The date and text can now been clearly seen: <B>1650 Ê% R P P P</B>. There is some speculation as to whether the bell is the original or a copy</P> <P>The tower and bell were lifted back into place at about 07:45 on the 15<SUP>th</SUP> of March 2007. They were delivered to the layby outside Clockhouse Podiatry on a heavy duty trailer towed by a Transit tipper truck. Soon after 07:15 the crane arrived and was set up for the lift. The tower was secured with strops that were then strapped around the tower to prevent excess movement. The crane then lifted the 900Kg tower over the scaffolding and onto the base. A second lift, secured under the roof section, was required to remove the transit pallet that was under the tower.</P> <TABLE BORDER=0 class=thumbs> <TR><TD><A HREF="/images/hh/full/5h.jpg" target="_blank"> <IMG class=edge SRC="/images/hh/page/5h.jpg" alt="Hidden Horsham, the bell tower arrives back in Blackridge Lane" width=295 height=221 border=0 align=left></A></TD> <TD><A HREF="/images/hh/full/5i.jpg" target="_blank"> <IMG class=edge SRC="/images/hh/page/5i.jpg" alt="Hidden Horsham, lift-off as the tower heads back up" width=295 height=221 border=0 align=left></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD><P class=c>The cupola ready to go back up</P></TD><TD><P class=c>The lift begins</P></TD></TR> </TABLE> <P>The bell was returned to the workshop to be transported to Blackhorse way with the tower prior to it being placed back on top of the clockhouse. The bell hangers are clearly broken away and the bell was rehung using two lengths of studding (threaded rod) through existing holes in the bell. These were threaded through a length of air-dried oak from woodland in nearby Capel. The bell was lifted onto the roof using the crane then lifted into position by hand</P> <TABLE BORDER=0 class=thumbs> <TR><TD><A HREF="/images/hh/full/5j.jpg" target="_blank"> <IMG class=edge SRC="/images/hh/page/5j.jpg" alt="Hidden Horsham, almost there..." width=295 height=393 border=0 align=left></A></TD> <TD><A HREF="/images/hh/full/5k.jpg" target="_blank"> <IMG class=edge SRC="/images/hh/page/5k.jpg" alt="Hidden Horsham, and safely deleivered" width=295 height=393 border=0 align=left></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD><P class=c>Almost there...</P></TD><TD><P class=c>...and safely delivered</P></TD></TR> </TABLE> <P>The finishing touches were added in the following week when the lead work was fitted around the base and the woodwork painted. The <A HREF="/85/clock.htm">clockface</A> was removed for its renovation, returning after 18 months. The tower should be good for many years to come; the only attention needed is to keep the paintwork in good condition</P> <P>Hidden Horsham would like to thank all those that helped to create this feature. There are more photographs of the renovation and lift freely available on request via the <A HREF="/hh/contact.htm" title="feedback page">contact</A> page</P> <TABLE BORDER=0 class=info > <TR><TD width=19%><P>Fact File</P></TD><TD width=27%><P>Location: <A HREF="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=RH12+1NU&ll=51.062679,-0.330212&spn=0.002893,0.008315&om=1" target="_blank">RH12 1NU</A></P></TD><TD width=27%><P> Build Date: c18<SUP>th</SUP> C</P></TD><TD width=27%><P> Listed: <A HREF="http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=298091" target="_blank">Yes</A></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <BR> <TABLE BORDER=0 class=info > <TR><TD><P>External Links:</P> <P>D Cox Building & Construction Ltd<BR> 2 Little Comptons, Horsham, RH13 5UW<BR> Tel: 01403 242113</P> <P><A HREF="http://www.kellysearch.co.uk/gb-company-32663671.html" target="_blank">Nigel Carpenter Custom Made Joinery & Furniture</A><BR> Unit 7, Parklands Farm, Parklands, Shere, Surrey, GU5 9JQ<BR> Telephone: (01483) 203759<BR> Fax: (01483) 203759</P> <P>J E Marchington FRICS<BR> 60-61 Quarry Street<BR> Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3UB<BR> 01483 304244</P> <P>Cleaning Consultants (Contractors) Ltd<BR> Little Springfield Farm, Plaistow Rd, Loxwood<BR> Billingshurst, West Sussex RH14 0TS<BR> Tel: 01403 752347</P> <P>Cleaning Consultants (Contractors) Ltd<BR> Little Springfield Farm, Plaistow Rd, Loxwood<BR> Billingshurst, West Sussex RH14 0TS<BR> Tel: 01403 752347</P> <P><A HREF="http://www.clockhousepodiatry.co.uk/" target="_blank">Clockhouse Podiatry</A></P> <P><A HREF="http://www.symes-associates.co.uk" target="_blank">Nicholas Symes Associates</A></P> <P class=vh>Visit Horsham: <A HREF="http://www.visithorsham.co.uk/business/Clockhouse_Podiatry.aspx" target="_blank">Clockhouse Podiatry</A></P> <P class=vh>Visit Horsham: <A HREF="http://www.visithorsham.co.uk/business/First_People_Recruitment.aspx" target="_blank">First People Recruitment</A></P> </TD></TR> </TABLE> <H3><A HREF="/4/tanbridge.htm" class=opac><IMG SRC="/images/back.gif" alt="click for the previous image" border=0></A><A HREF="/6/6.htm" class=opac><IMG SRC="/images/fwd.gif" alt="click for the next image" border=0></A></H3> <HR> <P>Contributions, comments and suggestions are welcomed. 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