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19
Sept
Ripon school's historic clock cranks back into life after caretaker's epic mission to restore it
After decades standing silent, the historic clock at Ripon Grammar School is ticking – and chiming – once again, thanks to a caretaker's remarkable dedication.
The mechanism in the school’s iconic clocktower is back in working order after caretaker Matthew Buller spent around 140 hours painstakingly restoring it, working through weekends and school holidays – ever since November 2025.
The moment of truth came shortly before the new school year began, when Matthew finally got the clock to work.
Matthew said:
It was relief, excitement and overwhelming joy. I was ecstatic at the results.
Ripon Grammar School caretaker Matthew Buller with the school's 1889 clock.
'Incredibly moving'
Sixth-former William Renton was one of a number of students in the clocktower to witness the historic moment. He said:
It was amazing when the bells rang in front of me for the first time and I immediately knew that all of Matthew’s hard work had paid off!
The clocktower is such a central and integral part of the Ripon Grammar grounds and it chiming again (with the correct time!) really brings a great sense of community to the school. Congratulations once again to Matthew – it’s truly amazing what he's done.
Another student, Iona O'Hare, said:
The clocktower is iconic. Hearing it chime for the first time was incredibly moving and momentous.
The clocktower, the heavy clock weights, and Matthew Buller.
And one Ripon resident spoke for many when he contacted Matthew to thank him for the time and effort he had put into getting the clock on Clotherholme Road, fondly known as ‘Clotherholme’s Big Ben’, working again, saying:
On behalf of all the folk who drive past the school, thank you.
Labour of love
The remarkable resurrection of the clock attracted lots of attention beyond school, featuring in newspapers and other media. A TV production company has also been following Matthew's progress, visiting the school to record the restoration as it unfolded. More details about the programme will be revealed at a later date.
Matthew, who joined RGS in October 2025, took on the restoration as a labour of love, determined to revive a remarkable piece of the school’s history.
But the scale of the job proved far greater than he initially imagined. He had to dismantle the clock mechanism and pulley system down to individual components, and painstakingly remove years of paint, rust and grime.
The base of the Ripon Grammar School clock, which is believed to have been out of use for decades.
Every one of the clock’s thousands of gear teeth had to be cleaned, and brass components had to be submerged in ammonia before being brought back to a shine using fine steel wool.
Matthew said:
It’s immense the amount of time required when it comes to cleaning every single tooth on all the gears – thousands of them.
The gears are only about 30 per cent of the total work. I ambitiously thought it would take a couple of hours to clean everything up. I then booked off two weeks of holiday for the other six days it took.
The restoration also involved scaffolding being erected to allow the bells to be removed safely, before their straps and hammers were restored and the bells reattached.
The bronze bells weighs between 60kg and 90kg.
Once cleaned and repaired, the intricate mechanism was carefully reassembled and a new steel cable installed to safely carry the 368kg of weights that power the clock.
The work also uncovered evidence of repairs carried out during the clock’s long lifetime, including three replaced gear teeth and a specially made bracket, where cast iron on one of the barrels had previously snapped.
The clock is now being carefully monitored as Matthew gets used to its workings. For the time being, he winds the weights every day, but will eventually move to a six-day cycle.
Every six months, selected parts will need oiling, and the wire, bell straps, pulleys and hooks will be regularly checked for wear. The pendulum also has an adjustment underneath to regulate the clock’s accuracy.
For Matthew, the restoration has been a remarkable journey of discovery.
A living piece of history
The clock, made by W Potts & Sons of Leeds, dates from 1889 and has a fascinating connection to the Houses of Parliament. Its working design was created by Edmund Beckett, better known as Lord Grimthorpe, who also designed the machinery controlling Big Ben’s great bell and clock.
The RGS clock is believed to have last worked properly around 40 to 50 years ago.
Headmaster Jonathan Webb said:
Matthew has put in an enormous amount of his personal time and expertise into this project. His extraordinary dedication has brought more than an old clock back to life. He has restored a living piece of RGS history and, with the clock and bells now working again, reconnected generations of our school community with a landmark that has been part of Ripon’s story for almost 140 years.
The restoration has also continued a remarkable tradition of community support. A public appeal launched to help fund the project raised more than £2,100, surpassing the original £1,500 target, with the remaining money to be spent on a weight chute and sand cushion alongside lighting and ongoing maintenance.
Now, after decades of silence, the clocktower has its voice back – and Matthew can get back to his normal life. He said:
To look back, from where the project started to where it is now, is very rewarding – but I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss my free time at the weekends.
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