World's Oldest Hand-Wound Clock To Go Automatic

World's Oldest Hand-Wound Clock To Go Automatic

Six centuries of tradition will come to an end later this month when the world's oldest hand-wound clock goes automatic. Wells Cathedral Clock has been hand-wound since being installed in 1392.

Hundreds of winders have made the journey into the tiny room behind the world famous clock to ensure that time keeps marching on. But after 80 years, the latest winders the Fisher family are to hand the daily job over to a machine, This is Somerset informs.

Since 1987, Paul Fisher has been undertaking the exhausting task of spending an hour, three times a week, turning the three 250kg weights about 800 times.

But on Thursday the horologist, 63, announced his retirement as the official “Keeper of the Great Clock of Wells”, Telegraph reports.