Posts In: News

Terry’s Chocolate Factory Clock Ticks Again After Search For Missing Parts

June 19, 2023 Heritage, News

Landmark clock at the Terry’s chocolate factory in York ticks for the first time since 2005 after search for its missing parts. The Clock at the Grade II-listed Terry’s Chocolate Factory has been dormant for the last 18 years after it stopped in 2005 when work around it fell silent and production of Terry’s chocolate was moved oversees. Abandoned and falling into disrepair, the listed factory was on English Heritage’s Buildings at Risk Register when it was bought by property developer HBD in 2013.  HBD partnered with the PJ Livesey Group and as part of their work together – converting the 1920s factory…

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National Apprenticeship Week 2023 #skillsforlife

February 7, 2023 News, Personnel

With National Apprenticeship Week kicking off, we asked Ryan, one of our recent apprentices to reflect on the programme: “One thing that’s surprised me about the job I am doing is how much freedom you get. In the sense that you get services to do and you get to travel around the country to do them. I knew about the travelling because of my father working for the company but it is amazing the amount of places you get to visit, you get to go to places you’ve never heard of before.” ⁠ “I now have the confidence to perform…

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The Coronation Clock Tower, Sheerness, Kent

November 2, 2021 News, Uncategorized

Earlier this month our team began restoration of the Coronation Clock Tower in Sheerness to its former glory. The Grade II listed clock tower was dismantled in sections over three days by engineers Kevin Allen, Martin Butchers, Richard Cox, Dave Longdon and apprentice clockmaker Ethan Burnett. The essential repairs and careful restoration will be completed by our team at our dedicated workshops in Derby. Now the clock is safely in Derby it will undergo repairs to the dial, hands, and clock mechanism. New iron sections will be cast to replace the damaged areas, and the existing paintwork will be removed…

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A Project at the Heart of a Community

February 22, 2021 News, Public, Time

At the end of November last year our team helped to complete an important community led project which highlighted just what can be achieved when people come together and make a collective effort. We were commissioned by Horsefair & Proud, a committee that promotes and champions the Horsefair area of Kidderminster, to create a replica of the original pillar clock which was constructed in 1912 in honour of local businessman & councillor Fred Oakes and stood outside The Old Peacock public house until its removal in 1969. It was hoped that the original would be restored but no record of…

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A restoration project filled with nostalgia for Dundee residents

February 15, 2021 News, Public, Uncategorized

When jeweller Chisholm Hunter opened their Dundee boutique in early 2020 in the vacant H Samuel premises, they promised to restore a clock that holds a special place in the hearts and minds of local residents. The clock projects out above the corner of High Street and Reform Street, which is a famed meeting point for couples on first dates. Unfortunately, it is also a spot where many individuals have been stood up, earning it the nickname of ‘Duffer’s Corner!’ Together with the Dundee Historic Environment Trust, Chisholm Hunter enlisted Smith of Derby to restore the clock to its former…

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Introducing our ‘Heritage Collection’

January 15, 2021 Heritage, News

We begin 2021 with news of an important project which the company began last autumn! We hope to share more with you throughout the coming year. With the help of professional archivist, Jane Middleton-Smith, who has worked on numerous research projects and archive collections, we have begun to categorise our incredible ‘archive’ of records. A database has been developed not only to identify the objects and documents such as photographs and artefacts that make up our company history but also to protect them for the future so we can share as many of them as possible with our team and…

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It’s a ‘Treble’ at the Family Business of the Year Awards 2020!

June 26, 2020 News

Smith of Derby scooped three awards at the national Family Business United – Family Business of the Year Awards 2020, including being named Supreme Champion – Family Business of the Year 2020. The awards are a special moment for our prestigious clockmaking company. Family Business United celebrate family owned businesses across the UK. Recognising the contribution these businesses make to the economy as well as the thousands of jobs they support. The FBU Annual Awards, usually held in London, have become a popular event for all family businesses across the UK. In the ‘virtual’ awards ceremony held live across the internet,…

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Smith of Derby, a Family Company

June 22, 2020 News

We are proud to be a family business. The 5th and 6th generation of ownership is part of the day-to-day running of Smith of Derby today and our family ethos runs throughout the culture of our team.  Following John Smith’s clockmaking apprenticeship with Whitehurst, he founded Smith of Derby in 1856 and the company has been owned by the Smith family ever since, with 5th and 6th generation of family now owning the business. However, family values are not just with ownership, as the past and present team, over our 164years of operation, have developed an underlying family culture which is…

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Now is the Time

June 19, 2020 News

Time is so precious, and this has been emphasised even more during the past few months. Whilst many of us have been enjoying more time at home with our loved ones, many have been working hard keeping everyone safe and caring for those who are venerable. We are all looking forward to the time when we are together again. Excitement has begun to grow for the coming period when we are reunited again with family, friends, and those in our local communities. Our team here at Smith of Derby are certainly are looking forward to opening our doors and working…

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Potts of Leeds Return to Work

June 17, 2020 News, Uncategorized

We are delighted to confirm that our Leeds based clockmaker, Kevin Ireland, returns to work today. Kevin will be strengthening our presence across the country as we return to work – restarting public time in communities across Yorkshire and the North of England.    With more than 30 years’ experience with the company, Kevin’s return brings extensive experience and knowledge, underlying our commitment to restarting public time across the North. Having an extensive knowledge of ‘Potts of Leeds’ clocks, of which there are literally hundreds of mechanical timepieces across the North of England, Kevin will be sure to start public time…

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