A rare medieval clock at Castle Rushen is set to undergo specialist conservation work aimed at preserving one of the island's most significant historic timepieces.

The conservation will be carried out by Cumbria Clock Company Ltd, a firm that works alongside the Palace Clock Team as part of the official maintenance and conservation programme for Big Ben.

The company also maintains and services more than 1,400 public clocks across the United Kingdom.

The project will focus on preserving Castle Rushen's historic clock, which is one of the few surviving 16th-century wooden-framed turret clocks, with the conservation work intended to help safeguard the timepiece for future generations.

Following the completion of the project, the clock will be returned to Castle Rushen, where it is expected to operate reliably once again while benefiting from improved protection and greater accessibility for visitors.

Chris Weeks ACR, conservator for Manx National Heritage said: ‘Castle Rushen’s medieval clock is an extraordinarily rare survival and one of the Isle of Man’s most significant historic objects.

‘Although it has faithfully kept time for centuries, its age and complexity mean it now requires highly specialised conservation to ensure it can continue to do so for generations to come.

‘We are delighted to be working with the Cumbria Clock Company, whose internationally recognised expertise in conserving historic turret clocks makes them uniquely qualified for this project.

‘The work will not only improve the clock’s long-term reliability but will also allow us to display and interpret it in a way that offers visitors a much closer appreciation of its remarkable craftsmanship and history when it returns to Castle Rushen.’

Manx National Heritage has thanked the Friends of Manx National Heritage for funding the project.