Posts In: Uncategorized

Historic Clock Restored at Hodge House in Cardiff

February 14, 2023 Uncategorized

Architects and Design Practice Stride Treglown, have completed the latest stage in their £17 million refurbishment for owner Legal & General. As part of this stage, which brings the 110,000 square foot eight-storey Hodge House office building into the 21st century, the clock and four dials adorning the clock tower have been repaired by our Smith of Derby team and restored to their former glory. Repairs to the clock, which has kept accurate public time in Cardiff city centre for over 100 years, comprised, “restoration of the clock dials and mechanism, reinstatement of the bell, structural repairs, cleaning of stonework and roof repairs,” says project lead…

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Thwaites & Reed Cage Clock Restoration

February 10, 2023 Uncategorized

The team here at the Derby Works have recently completed the restoration of the Thwaites & Reed Clock belonging to Turvey Abbey Monastery. Martin Butchers, our Sales and Complex Projects Manager describes how, ‘the arbors were out of alignment, so the teeth didn’t mesh properly on the wheels, which kept stopping the clock. The solution was to completely strip the clock, make new bushes, polish the pivots and rebuild the clock and ensure that all the wheels and teeth were in perfect alignment.” Martin continues: “The painting of the cage of the clock was requested by Sister Benedict as there was…

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“You Never Stop Learning” – Reflections on Horology

February 10, 2023 Uncategorized

With the final day of National Apprenticeship Week, we thought it would be great to hear from experienced Horologist Paul. We hear why he changed careers and entered into clockmaking, what he likes about the work he does and what he think makes a good clockmaker. “I joined Smith of Derby in 2006 after a career in hospitality and transitioned to studying Horology. I was first introduced to clocks by my Grandfather who used to repair them, and can remember fondly as a four or five year old staring into the back of a clock case for the first time….

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Apprenticeship Programme: Scaling New Heights

February 7, 2023 Uncategorized

Among the skills we offer to those who join the company at Apprentice level, or after a prior career, is the opportunity to receive training for an IRATA (Industrial Rope Access Trade Association) qualification. Our seven strong team of IRATA trained specialist clockmakers is headed up by Jason (here pictured alongside Tom) who has in excess of 10,000 hours of working via rope access. ⁠Expertise gained over 20 years, Jason first qualified with IRATA in 2001. Since that time, he has re-validated his Level 3 qualification every three years, as required, and has in total taken five assessments at this…

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St Lawrence Jewry: Dial Installation

December 13, 2022 Uncategorized

Clockmaker Richard Cox here gives an overview of the recent work we carried out on the four 6ft dials of St Lawrence Jewry Church in the City of London.

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Dial Restoration in The City of London

November 23, 2022 Uncategorized

St Lawrence Jewry Church “They’ve done a cracking job in the workshop. They’ve cut out all the rot, all the old bad metal, restored them fully, and obviously the crowning glory on the dials is the gild.” The four dials on the St Lawrence Jewry clock tower in the City of London have been faithfully restored and gilded with gold leaf, and painted black – the originally colour, discovered during the restoration process. A four man team of Rich, Tim, Dan and Mak travelled from the Clockworks in Derby to London with the dials. Under the guidance of project managers from Bakers…

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Time Stops for the Queen

October 11, 2022 Uncategorized

“When the two minutes silence was kept you could have heard a pin hit the parade ground floor. It was a very moving day.”⁠ ⁠ The Thwaites & Reid Clock at Horse Guards, St James’ Park, has been under our care for a number of years. Smith of Derby Clockmakers Paul Kilburn and Richard Cox have worked extensively with senior military staff at Horse Guards, with the latter undertaking an important role for the Queen’s funeral procession. Richard stands in front of Horse Guards, with the Thwaites & Reid Clock behind him Here, Richard describes his experience:⁠ “At the request…

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A New Chapter in Hotel Clocks

September 7, 2022 Uncategorized

The clock at the Waldorf Astoria Kuwait is a celebration of time-keeping and a new chapter in the history of hotel clocks.⁠ Situated in the lobby of the newly opened Waldorf Astoria Kuwait, which opened its doors two weeks ago on Wednesday August 24, the clock features a sphere made from eight pieces of compound curved glass panels and brush polished stainless steel parts with a gold PVD finish.⁠ Drawing on the conceptual design initiated by LW Design our Smith of Derby design team worked closely with LW to refine the design and create an iconic time-piece in a contemporary style,…

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Julie Celebrates 20 Years

August 24, 2022 Uncategorized

Our Head of Planning, Julie Breward, this year celebrates 20 years at the company.  Few have a better understanding of the breadth of the work we do around the UK each year and the organisation required to plan several thousand clock visits a year!. For Julie, no two days are the same, since no two clock visits are. Coordinating the rest of the team, her understanding of the intricacies of planning site visits is second-to-none. ⁠ ⁠ Julie knows the strengths of each clockmaker, their experience-level, capabilities and regional locations. She also understands which clocks are more complicated to service…

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St Ives Church Clock, DialWorks and Hand Repair

August 5, 2022 Uncategorized

It’s been a busy last few weeks for our Clockmakers around the country, whose work has included the four-man team heading down to St Ives on the North Coast of Cornwall to repair the dial-works, hands and clock of St Ia Church, the St Ives parish Church. Here in this interview with shots of the clockmakers at work, Churchwarden of St Ia, Stephen Vranch explains the significance of the clock for both the church and the town as a whole, the work done by fellow parishioner Carmel Henry in ensuring the clock is cared for, and details of the fundraising…

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