AN ICONIC Victorian timepiece in Diggle has been viciously damaged in a raid.
The internal workings of the clock on WH Shaw’s former pallet works on Huddersfield Road was vandalised last month, leaving it unworkable.
And the incident has left Maurice Brayford, 68 who has maintained the clock for years, devastated.
Maurice, who was celebrated as a Diggle Hero a couple of years ago for selflessly keeping the timepiece running, said: “I’m shattered by what has happened.
“I visit the clock tower three times a week to ensure the clock is wound and everything is in good working order. If ever I’m away, my two children take on the job.
“The damage to the timepiece makes absolutely no sense. Why would someone want to do such a terrible thing?”
He continued: “The clock has stopped a few times: five with frost and once with a broken pendulum.
“But it keeps accurate time and many people in the village still set their clocks by it. It loses one minute a week, which is remarkable after more than 120 years of service.”
Local history expert and Saddleworth Parish Councillor Mike Buckley added: It’s very sad someone should wilfully damage the clock in this way.
“The clock is an important part of what makes the building special. It’s a superb piece of Victorian engineering and was in perfect working condition.”
A spokesman for WRT Developments who own mill said they were examining CCTV footage and would be tightening security at the site.
“We are very shocked by this incident,” he declared.
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