Mike Tuck, the Chairman of the   Ringwood Woodcarvers was recently asked by James Babb, to help with the restoration of the clock tower at Breamore House.

 

The octagonal brick  clock tower was built it 1860 to house an elevated water tank, which supplied water to her ladyships newly installed bath in Breamore House, the water being pumped up to the tank from an underground stream.

 

On the top of the tower an elaborate cupola was constructed to house the four clock faces, with a bell mounted above.The domed roof is supported on eight massive Oak pillars and it is these that he was asked to help with.

 

Each one of the pillars started off as a 12” square post which had to be machined on a giant lathe by a company in Bridgewater.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The top and bottom of each pillar then required carving to match the rotted originals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Careful measuring and marking out was done before the hand crafting began.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The work had to be completed in five weeks, as the scaffolding around the tower had to come down in mid June, so he   asked me to   help  him with the basic carving and to assist the  professional woodcarver, Sarah Goss from Petersfield.

 

The Ringwood Woodcarvers met Sarah at the recent 'Yandles Show' (timber and woodworking machinery supplier) where she was exhibiting some of her work. Sarah has a first class BA Hons Degree in woodcarving and is now specialising in architectural carving as well as gifts and gilded ware, we feel very priviledged to be working on the same project with her.

 

More photos of the Clock Tower and construction site can be found on the

 

 

web-site.