146 years after the tower of St Peter’s Church in Cradley was built, a community clock now keeps watch over the communities of Cradley and Cradley Heath.

The tower had a space designed for a clock but, due to lack of funds one was never added. In 2016 the clock dial at St Luke’s Church in Cradley Heath was saved from being scrapped after the building was demolished. It's now been installed at St Peter’s Church in Cradley, thanks to community fundraising and grant funders.

Skilful clock makers at the Cumbria Clock Company, together with The Platform Hire Centre in Dudley and Chapmans Electrical in Cradley Heath have worked together on the practical installation works over two days.

It's cost just over £14,000 to restore the dial, install it and install chimes on the bells. Almost £9,000 of this money has been raised over the last five years through concerts, sponsorships and public donations. To boost funds, grants have been obtained from Dudley Council Community Fund, W A Cadbury Charitable Trust, Owen Family Trust and Laslett’s Trust to complete the installation.

A spokesperson for the project said:

"We are extending the opportunity for people to sponsor a minute on the clock dial as we are continuing to fundraise to fund a new flagpole on the tower which will replace one removed many years ago.

For more information and photos of the project, you can visit stpeterscradley.org.