Wells Cathedral clock dates from around 1390 and is located in the north transept. It is believed to be the 2nd oldest working clock in the world and the oldest one to have its original dials. The name of the clockmaker who built it isn't known for certain. It may have been made by Peter Lightfoot, who was a monk at Glastonbury Abbey or it may have been made by the same person who made one for Salisbury Cathedral at about the same time. It replaced an earlier clock which pre-dated it by over 100 years.
The clock has an astronomical 24 hour dial. Midday is at the top and midnight is at the bottom. The hour hand has a golden sun on it and the whole face represents the universe as it was understood to be in medieval times. The earth is in the middle of the clock face and the background has fixed stars painted on it. In each of the 4 corners an angel is shown holding a face, which is blowing towards the earth. These represent the 4 cardinal winds blowing from the 4 compass points.
The minute hand, which is a small star inside the sun, was added in the 18th century.
In the middle of the clock, the number of days (1-30) since the last new moon is shown by a pointer. This is accurate to one day in 33 months. A golden moon appears through a round hole in the central disc to reflect its shape in the night sky. Opposite the moon circle is a small painting of Phoebe.
Every quarter of an hour two knights emerge on a platform above the clock to have a jousting match. One of them gets knocked off his horse every time he comes round.
Jack Blandiver/Blandifer is located above and to the right of the clock. He chimes the quarter hours with his hells and strikes the bell in front of him with his hammer on the hour.
There is another face on the external wall of the north transept. This dates from c1475. The face, motion, bells, timber jacks and counterweights were cleaned, repaired and restored 2022-2023.
The clock was wound by hand until 2010 when it was replaced by an electric winding motor, following the retirement of Paul Fisher. It had been wound by 5 generations of his family.
The clock movement was originally regulated by a foliat mechanism. This was converted to pendulum regulation after 1657. The original weight-driven medieval mechanism was replaced in Victorian times. This operates the astronomical dial and also the outside dial. The original mechanism is now at the Science Museum in London, where it is still in working order.
