The clocks that take 2.5 hours to wind back

**Interview with Faye Rason: The Clock Keeper of Lanhydrock**

As the collections officer at Lanhydrock, a historic Victorian country house in Cornwall operated by the National Trust, Faye Rason finds herself in a whirlwind of activity every time British Summer Time (BST) comes to an end.

Faye, can you tell us about your responsibilities when BST ends?

“Absolutely! Each year, when BST ends, I have the task of winding back 20 clocks, which can take up to two-and-a-half hours. It’s quite a change from my usual routine, where I spend about an hour and a half every week manually winding the collection. The backward winding definitely adds some extra time to my duties.”

That sounds like quite the process! Is there a particular clock that makes this task especially challenging?

“Yes, there’s a walnut long case clock from 1740 that presents quite the challenge. It chimes eight bells every 15 minutes, so winding it back is not just time-consuming but also a noisy process. It really keeps you on your toes!”

Despite the challenges, it sounds like you have some favorites among the collection.

“My favorite clock here is a French eight-day striking clock. While it’s stunning, it comes with its own set of challenges. It has a fragile glass dome, and every time I wind it, I feel a bit nervous because I need to remove the dome. The fragility of the glass can be quite stressful.”

You mentioned the intricacies involved in winding these clocks. What makes the walnut long case clock stand out in terms of performance?

“Interestingly, despite being the oldest in the collection, the walnut long case clock keeps better time than all the others. It has three heavy pendulums, and since I’m quite short, I have to go on tiptoes to wind each one. But the chime is absolutely beautiful—it really sounds lovely.”

How do you keep track of how each clock is performing?

“Every clock has its own record sheet, where I note each time I wind it, along with how many minutes it’s running slow or fast. This documentation is invaluable for the clock conservator, as it helps them diagnose any issues during servicing.”

It’s fascinating to hear about the care and dedication you put into managing these historical timepieces. Thank you, Faye, for sharing your story!

“Thank you! It’s a labor of love, and I’m glad to share the world of clockkeeping at Lanhydrock.”