Posts In: Uncategorized

British Science Week – Teacher Resource Pack

March 4, 2024 Uncategorized

British Science Week 18 – 17 March ** Download here: British Science Week Teacher Resource  **

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National Apprenticeship Week

February 5, 2024 Uncategorized

National Apprenticeship Week is here and we thought there’d be no better way of marking the week than by showcasing our apprentice team’s recent work on St Peter’s Church Clock, Bishop’s Waltham.⁠ This magnificent 17th-century clock has undergone a complete restoration by our skilled team here at our Derby Clockworks. But this project hasn’t just been about preserving history; it’s about shaping the future.⁠ Our team of apprentice clockmakers have been guided by Turret Clock expert Andy Burdon through the various stages of restoration, taking on centuries-old clockmaking knowledge and techniques. They’ve learned the intricacies of repairing delicate mechanisms, from…

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Clock Tower Receives Comprehensive Restoration

December 14, 2023 Uncategorized

We were recently contacted by a client seeking assistance with the non-functional clock on their clock turret at the Clock House, Tamworth. Originally a stable block, the building has been transformed into a residential property owned by our client. Following a thorough site inspection, our team identified issues with the clock movement, controller, and structural integrity of the tower, which exhibited signs of deterioration in certain areas. Addressing the client’s desire for enhanced maintenance and longevity, we implemented a strategic solution. Our experts installed a new Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) turret, featuring LED lighting for two 3ft Skeleton dials adorned…

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Harnessing Solar in Jamaica

November 27, 2023 Uncategorized

Team Complete Restoration Work on Mandeville Parish Church Clock in Jamaica October 2023 – Mandeville Parish Church, Jamaica Our Smith of Derby team have successfully completed the restoration of the clock and dial at Mandeville Parish Church in Jamaica. Roydell Williams, Treasurer at Mandeville Parish Church, expressed his gratitude for the restoration work, saying, “The clock is working perfectly. We wish to thank Smith of Derby for the excellent restoration work done on the clock and to you Martin, Julie, Johnny, Ben, Joe, and the rest of the technical team for the professional manner in which the project was handled.”…

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Restoration of Copper Dials at St Mark’s Church, Fairfield

November 20, 2023 Uncategorized

We are pleased to announce the successful completion of the restoration project for the copper dial at St. Mark’s Church in Fairfield. Steering the refurbishment with a keen eye has been our Complex Projects Manager Martin Butchers.   Embarking on this journey, a careful examination revealed the copper dial’s gentle dislodgment by the wind. The original attachment, featuring traditional wooden plugs and slotted screws, had weathered over the years, leading to instability. The restoration unfolded as a process, bringing the dial back to its original black colour, adorned with gold leaf detailing and hands. Our team were able replaced the previous clock…

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Bringing Joy to Bradford on Avon’s Christ Church Community

November 15, 2023 Uncategorized

Introduction: In a celebration of heritage and community, residents of Bradford on Avon are enjoying the return of their clock to Christ Church, following an extensive £16,000 repair and restoration endeavor. The clock’s newly regilded hands and dial, perched atop the Grade II listed Christ Church spire, were reinstalled in October, marking a significant milestone 160 years after their initial installation. A Special Two-Day Celebration: The restoration of the Christ Church clock was celebrated with a special two-day event that drew in over a hundred enthusiastic visitors. Among those in attendance were three classes from the nearby Christ Church Primary…

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140 Year Old Town Hall Clock Starts It Restoration Journey

November 7, 2023 Uncategorized

An iconic clock that has stood out on the Dover skyline for 140 years is to be restored as part of the £10.5 million reawakening of the Maison Dieu (Dover Town Hall). The clock was carefully removed from the building today (6 November 2023) for the first time since 1902 and is being transported to our Derby Clockworks.  The restoration will see the clock repaired to full working order, including restoring the lighting so that the clock can be seen day and night for generations to come. The Maison Dieu tower clock was made in 1883 by E Dent &…

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The Eastgate Clock – A Joyce of Whitchurch Classic

November 1, 2023 Uncategorized

The Eastgate Clock stands as a turret clock positioned above the Eastgate within the historic walls of Chester. With our Clockmakers completing the annual service of the clock last month, we thought we’d share some of this incredible clock’s history: While the initial gate was of Roman origin, the current structure, constructed during the Georgian era, was designed to accommodate coaches. The clock was not incorporated until the Victorian period, commemorating Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee. The Eastgate Clock has served as a significant entrance to the city of Chester since Roman times, functioning as the eastern gateway to the fortress. It…

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The Smith of Derby Team Visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral Clock

September 7, 2023 Uncategorized

London, September 6, 2023 – Members from across our clockmaking, sales, planning and management teams came together to tour of some the company’s most significant clocks in London. The highlight of the tour being the visit the St Pauls’ Cathedral to see the 1893 clock made by the then John Smith & Son.     Historical Insights from the Smith of Derby Archives 1286: Historical records indicate the presence of a functioning clock within the old St. Paul’s church. 1667: The catastrophic Great Fire of London resulted in the destruction of the original cathedral. 1709: Langley Bradley of Fenchurch Street…

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A PASSION FOR TIME – Duncan Larkin-Jones⁠

August 2, 2023 Uncategorized

We caught up with Duncan, who joined the company a few months ago, and asked him a bit about how he came to have an interest in Horology:⁠ “My interest in horology started when I was a boy. I was drawn to the idea of how we can measure ‘time’, one of the few things in physics, another being gravity, that is irreversible. This interest eventually led me to studying Technical Horology at Hackney Technical College, and an opportunity following this to take up a position on the WOSTEP Course (Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Educational Program) in Switzerland. Perhaps…

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