Architecture:
According to Historic England, the tower was built in the mid 11th century with the nave. The upper stage of the tower is early-mid 13th century. Restorations 1903-4 by C. Hodgeson Fowler included addition of a tower parapet. The four-stage tower has plinth, quoins and chamfered string courses to first 3 stages. The tall first stage has a west door with low arched lintel and later lancet above. Stepped-in second stage has twin round-headed belfry openings with cylindrical mid-wall shafts and cushion capitals. Circular sound-holes to third stage, are obscured on south side by 19th century clockface. Fourth stage has tall twin pointed belfry openings with nook shafts and central chamfered shaft. There are twentieth century corbel table, spouts and embattled parapet with crocketed pinnacles.
Lincolnshire Towers:
The tower at All Saints is one of the best surviving examples of a Lincolnshire Tower built just after the Norman Conquest. There is a fascinating story about the nature of these towers and why they were built in a short space of time. For more details and a trail to other similar towers in northern Lincolnshire, see Lincolnshire Towers
Bells:
The Tower housed bells before 1734 but the records do not state when they were first installed.
Did you know that?
All Saints has six bells, the newest bell being added in 1899
The oldest five bells were made in 1734 and were cast here in Winterton
The frame on which the bells are hung in the tower was installed in 1948 and it has space for eight bells
Each bell has an inscription on it though for some reason, not known, the inscription on the second bell has been chipped off
The total weight of bells hung in the tower is over 2250 kilograms [or 2.2 tons as bells are still measured in the old Imperial weights using hundedweights, quarters and pounds]
The Tower Keeper is responsible for the management of the bell tower which includes maintenance of the bells
If you would like to know more about the bells click Church Bells
Clock:
Parish records show that a church clock existed in 1625 as John Dawber of Kirton was paid 3s.4d [about 17p] per year to keep the clock in repair. However, the current clock was made in 1834 in Winterton by clockmaker, John Robinson, and machine-maker, Matthew Beacock. The cost was £90 of which Lady Boynton, of Winterton Hall, gave £50. The rest was from public subscription.
Did you know that?
The diameter of the clock face that you can see on the tower is approximately 5 feet [1.52 meters]
The clock pendulum is 13 feet long [3.96 metres] and swings once every two seconds
Part of the escapement [mechanism] of the Winterton church clock is unique in Britain [It was invented by John Robinson]
The clock needs to be wound every week
The two weights are 7cwt [355.6kg] and 3 cwt [152.4kg] and they each need to be wound up 35 feet [10.7 metres]
The current Winterton Church Clock Keepers are Mr Richard Ball and Mr Roger Moody. They are responsible for the weekly winding and overall clock maintenance.
If you would like to know more about the clock and see a video clip of the weekly clock winding click Church Clock
