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 into apartments and offices – they spoke with us at Smith of Derby to ask if we could restore the clock and return it to full operation.

Here Clockmaker Joe Mines works last week as part of the team to restart the clock:

Reflecting on the project, our Complex Projects Manager Martin Butchers says:

“This has been an amazing project that has required not just all our skills but some deft detective work by the team.

“Terry’s is a rare Waiting Train Clock, made by Gents of Leicester, which is powered by an electrical impulse from a master clock. It was a visionary concept, well ahead of its time, but by the 1940s had already started to fall out of use.”

“When we came to remove the clock, we were absolutely heart-broken to discover that the actual mechanism was not there. Despite extensive inquiries and a great deal of effort by many, many people it was never found so we set about finding original parts to recreate it. This search involved speaking to horologists all over the country, chasing tip-offs and poring over auction house catalogues and eventually the team sourced the majority of the parts needed.”

“The workings of the clock are made up of the central waiting train and master clock, the trickle charger, low voltage warning bell and batteries together with connecting rods and joints. We had to find replacement parts from the same era and by the same maker – Gents of Leicester – to effectively replace, as far as possible, with like for like. We have achieved this with the exception of the connecting rods and a few joints so essentially, the working system will be pretty much as original.”

Pictured here is the C40C Gents Waiting train Movement, owned by Andy Burdon who provided it for use in the terry’s Factory Tower through Smith of Derby.

Martin explains how the search involved speaking to horologists all over the country, chasing tip-offs and poring over auction house catalogues until eventually the team sourced the majority of the parts needed.

“It has been quite a challenge, but the excitement when one of us managed to track down a part was huge.

Terry’s was founded in York in 1767, though it did not adopt its name until Joseph Terry took over the business in 1830. By 1924, it had expanded so much that a modern factory on the Knavesmire was built, consisting of five distinctive redbrick buildings; the head offices, time office, factory itself, Clock Tower with boilerhouse, and liquor store. Famous products like the Chocolate Orange were produced at the site, and during World War Two it made chocolate for prisoners of war and lifeboat ration packs.

As a tribute to the incredible story of Terrys in York, the developers have created a gallery space within the clock tower which will become the Clock Tower Museum, open three days a year to allow members of the public to view the clock mechanism and read display boards telling the Terry family story. The boards were compiled by local York resident, Stan Young.

Martin said: “It is hugely satisfying for everyone who has worked on the Terry’s project over the years to complete the job and see this magnificent rare clock keeping time for York once more. I hope Noel Terry would be pleased.”

“This search involved speaking to horologists all over the country, chasing tip-offs and poring over auction house catalogues and eventually the team sourced the majority of the parts needed.”

“This is a momentous day and we are very grateful to the team at Smith of Derby for providing the skills to make it happen,” said Georgina Lynch, PJ Livesey’s Managing Director.

“The Terry’s clock was once known as the ‘Kitchen Clock of York’ and part of the city’s heritage and we are very proud to have played our part in seeing it restored. Terry’s is synonymous with York and the buildings are now saved and repurposed for generations to come.”

Pictured: Martin Butchers, Kevin Ireland, Joe Mines and Andy Burdon

About the author

Nicholas Whitworth: