Thanks to @bsag I'm currently reading Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner.

There are some wonderful turns of phrase …

On Sunday mornings Henry would wind the clock. First one and then the other the quivering chains were wound up, till only the snouts of the leaden weights were visible, drooping sullenly over the abyss of time wherein they were to make their descent during the seven days following. After that the family went to church, and there were wound up for the week in much the same manner.