WITH the clocks about to go back to herald the start of British winter time, we take a look at one of the district's oldest clocks.

One of Ilkley's most familiar faces and a relative of London's best-known landmarks, the clock on All Saints' Church has told the time to passers-by for more than a century.

It was made in 1856 by William Potts of Leeds and was designed by Edmund Beckett, also known as the first Lord Grimthorpe, who designed the world-famous Westminster clock Big Ben.

All Saints' clock, which looks over the town's busiest crossroads at the north end of Brook Street,was completed three years prior to its grand London cousin, which started ticking in 1859.

In 2007 the All Saints' clock underwent a refurbishment. It was removed to enable a new electric powered winding system to be installed

Sitting on the front of the church's stone tower, overlooking the entrance, the clock is currently wound up by hand. The old system takes 55 minutes to rewind each week, Health and safety regulations mean two people must be present at the winding, climbing a spiral staircase of 60 steps to reach the clock.

All Saints' Church is built on the site of a Roman fort. The earliest part of the church is its 13th century south doorway, while the nave dates back to the 14th century. The church tower is of 15th century construction.

The church was extended and restored between 1860 and 1861 by well-known Bradford architects James Mallinson and Thomas Healey, who designed many churches across the Bradford district.

In 1925 two Roman altars were discovered built into the tower. Three eighth century Anglo-Saxon stone crosses, now incomplete, used to be in the churchyard but are now inside, below the tower.

In 1927 the vestry was extended and, following the Second World War, converted into a war memorial chapel. In 1949 the church was awarded a Grade II* listed classification.

Visitors are always welcome, says the church's website. Its usual opening times are listed online 'but if you are making a special trip, please contact us first to check that church will be open,' it says.

With thanks to a National Lottery Heritage Grant awarded in 2018, as part of a wider church development project, the historic building now has a number of information boards, multimedia displays and children's activity backpacks that will help visitors delve into its past.

People can explore the story of All Saints' Church and the important part it has played in the development of Ilkley from the time of the Romans to the modern day.

An information leaflet/map is provided inside, which highlights some of the interesting features of the church.