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See our apprentices dismantling the James Harrison of Hull’s clock @derbysilkmill

December 22, 2017 Heritage, News, Public, Time, Traditional

Check out our apprentice clockmakers Sam, Mitch and Tom dismantling the James Harrison of Hull’s Clock @derbysilkmill on Monday 18th December. James Harrison of Hull’s clock is now @smithofderby workshop waiting to be carefully restored under the guidance of turret clock and particularly Harrison specialist Chris McKay. For the latest updates please visit twitter pages @derbymuseums @smithofderby.

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Our apprentices to restore historic Harrison clock

December 15, 2017 Heritage, News, Public, Time, Traditional

Derby Museums and Smith of Derby are delighted to announce a partnership project that will see the historic Harrison clock, formerly of Derby Guildhall, removed from Derby Silk Mill and restored to working condition by apprentices at Smith of Derby. This exciting project has the dual benefit of training up future clockmakers and maintainers while safeguarding the future of one of the museum’s, and Derby’s, most significant treasures. The project will also see the nationally-significant Whitehurst I turret clock removed to Smith of Derby for safe keeping and display during the course of the Silk Mill’s £16.4m renovation to become…

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Keeping Public Time behind London’s mechanical clocks

December 14, 2017 News, Public, Time

Nick Whitworth, a filmmaker with an interest in clock making, approached our clockmaking company to see if we would be able to work together to highlight the mechanical clock work behind some of London’s most beautiful landmarks. The film follows Matthew Smith, one of Smith of Derby’s longest-serving clockmakers, as he carried out alterations on mechanical clocks across London, including clock mechanisms at St. Paul’s Knightsbridge and Westminster Abbey. Many of us know that the clocks change twice a year to account for Daylight Saving Time but few are probably aware of just what this entails. Behind the dials and hands visible from street level there are…

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