Hair raising repair work has started on the historic church clock at St Gregory’s in Bedale to restore it to its former glory as it celebrates its 150th birthday.

Specialist repairers who have more recently been repairing Britain’s most famous clock, Big Ben, have been drafted in to paint the dial and carry out maintenance and repairs on the renowned clock which has towered over the town since 1873.

That connection is very fitting as the Bedale clock was originally built by Dent and Co, who were Britain’s leading clock makers in the 1870’s having manufactured the Standard Clock at the Royal Observatory at Greenwich which was to keep Greenwich mean time against all others in the Empire. They also built Big Ben. The town’s church leaders are appealing for memories and information local people may have about the clock as part of major celebrations planned over the summer. E-mail admin@bedale.church, telephone 01677 425985, or 07949 006681, or speak to the wardens.