Chronochasm

First Appearance and Context

Within the Mynster, the chronochasm is the vast airy space behind the dials of the Præsidium where the mechanisms of the great clock come together. It is described in connection with the chains, sprockets, and upper works that support and coordinate the clock’s movement.

Description and Role

The chronochasm lies behind the Præsidium’s four great dials and contains high, open volumes through which the clock’s chains run and hang on sprockets turning on interlinked shafts. Within this space the clock’s gear‑trains and escapements are gathered and coupled to the rest of the mechanism.

Much higher in the Præsidium, in the upper reaches of the chronochasm, a sealed stone chamber encloses a sixth weight: a sphere of grey metal riding on a jack screw. This backup weight keeps the clock ticking while the main system is being wound. Outside of winding, it moves only if the meteorite drive weight has reached the floor; in such cases most of the mechanism disengages to conserve energy, allowing the clock to run in a hibernating mode for a long span.

In the lower reaches, the bells are open to the weather. Just beneath them is a small maintenance room that shelters part of the ringing mechanism; when darkened, avout have used it to project an image of the sun through a pinhole for observation. At the hour, the carillon’s automatic striking mechanism engages.

An upper stair spirals to a high door that opens onto the Starhenge at the top of the Præsidium.

Access and Acoustics

A ladder from the Fendant Court reaches the lower chronochasm and dead‑ends at the maintenance room beneath the bells; this route does not allow ascent to the upper Præsidium. During a period when the upper Præsidium was off limits, the portcullis and buttress stair were closed while the carillon level remained reachable by this ladder route.

Sound from services in the Mynster carries up the well into this space; an avout moving between levels can hear the conclusion of an aut from within the chronochasm.

Relationships and Functions

• Integrated into the Præsidium and essential to the operation of the great clock.
• Maintained and inspected by the Ita, who tend the chains, sprockets, and gearworks associated with this space.
• Serves the bell‑ringers for maintenance and for practicing changes, with knowledge passed to younger ringers.

Current Status

In regular use during daily rites and clock winding. Historical accounts note that the backup weight housed within the chronochasm has sustained timekeeping across major disruptions when winding could not be performed, before normal operation resumed.