Tower Clock and Steps APPEAL

St Mary’s Priory has been a centrepiece for the town of Chepstow since it was built in 1071. The clock tower, a later addition in 1705, houses the only working public clock in Chepstow, and its chimes can be heard by all around.  The other public clocks, on the old Herbert Lewis building and Tesco, have long since ceased to function.

Whilst the clock is still working, the clock movement is obsolete having been in place for over 60yrs ago, in the event of a failure replacements parts are no longer available.  The clock has been recently been serviced by the expert clockmakers Smiths of Derby est 1856, who have been maintaining the clock for decades, they have now informed us that the clock movement needs to be replaced to ensure Chepstow’s last remaining public clock keeps ticking and striking the tower bell on the hour.   Any unplanned failure will have no means of repair.  Help us upgrade the clock to take us forward to the rest of the century..

The clock is housed in the tower, with a spiral staircase which has a number of broken steps, making access to the roof very hazardous.  Although a flag was hoisted last year, it is now very tatty and is being lowered. It is impossible to send people up there on a regular basis to change or care for the flag – only specialised contractors can do it, which all costs money. 

The tower steps, also an integral part of the structure of the building, is the other part of this project which again will secure the future of the building into the years ahead, and give members of the public an opportunity to visit the tower roof and look at the beautiful view. 

The third part of the project is to repair some of the decorative stonework on the tower front which is deteriorating. 

The estimates for these works are listed below:

1. Refurbishment of the clock -  £3000.

2. Broken tower steps  - £12,000

3. Repair to the decorative stonework on the               West Front - £10,000.

We have raised the following grant funding for this work:

• Welsh Church Fund £3000

• National Churches Trust £5000

• Diocese of Monmouth £6000

• Chepstow Town Council £1000

• Chepstow Rotary £500

• Private donations and Clock and Tower appeal: £800

• Chepstow Priory Friends bar profits will hope to make up any further funding requirements.

Thanks for your support!

Update December 2024:  This year the clock workings have been renewed by Smith of Derby and the clock is fully functional again. Work to replace the broken tower steps has now started and we are looking to run tower tours once this is finished, and the safety checks are completed.  Watch this space!!