History
History of 1914/18 War Memorial Clock
10th November 2025
The School clock is elderly and in need of restoration.
At the end of the First World War, a parish memorial committee discussed a suitable Memorial to those who had served. A granite stone was suggested but at the time plans were in hand to build a new school. Mrs. Olive Prideaux (Pauline Rutherford’s grandmother) a teacher at the old school suggested a clock at the new school would be a fitting Memorial.
The general consensus was this was a good idea and the building plans were altered to incorporate a clock tower and a chamber for the weights between the two classrooms. The school was opened 19th November 1923; this can be seen on the inscription below the clock today.
The clock was ordered from Smiths of Derby (who service Big Ben) and the engineer stayed with Mr & Mrs Prideaux while he carried out the installation. The clock was an eight day movement and had to be wound by hand weekly. To access the roof chamber for winding, a ladder was kept in the classroom, Mrs Prideaux’s son Victor (Pauline’s father) took responsibility for the winding together with the cleaning and oiling until early 1970’s (48 yrs). Pauline then continued the task.
Landulph Parish Council took responsibility for the maintenance in1931 when the Memorial committee disbanded. In 1978 Cornwall County Council decided to extend the school and to make the two classrooms into the main hall; this meant that the weight chamber situated in the dividing wall would have to be removed. Mrs. Pauline Rutherford, Clerk to the Parish Council suggested this would be a good time to have the clock automated, and this was carried out in 1980 with grants from Landulph Parish Council (£685) and Cornwall County Council (£925. A grandson of the founder of Smiths of Derby did the work.
The Roll of Honour for 1914/18 War was transferred from the school to Memorial Hall when it was built in 1970. At a recent inspection, the engineer advised that the controller, which operates the striking mechanism, needs replacing, also that the clock dial is in need of restoration. Estimated cost £2170 plus VAT. This is more than the parish council can afford, therefore, it is hoped that grant funding can be secured.
Mavis Edmonds, Newsletter February/March 2008
