21 May 2007
Rare new clock ticks in to the City of London
Photo opportunnity: unveiling of the clock on Thursday 3 May at
11.30am.
Location: junction of Newgate Street and King Edward Street,
EC1.
A rare, new public clock will be unveiled in the heart of the
City of London by the Lord Mayor John Stuttard on 31 May as part of
an urban redevelopment scheme.
The "wandering hour" Newgate Street Clock has a two-metre
diameter dial and is reckoned to be the only clock of its kind in
the world. It is the first time in 12 years that a public clock has
been installed in the Square Mile.
Construction of the clock, which will be situated in Newgate
Street – just 200 metres from St Paul’s Cathedral and opposite the
London Stock Exchange – also coincides with the 375th anniversary
of the livery company, the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers and so
bears the Company’s arms in its dial’s centre.
The project is part of the City of London’s Street Scene
Challenge and horologist Joanna Migdal was enlisted to design the
clock and raise funds to cover its costs.
Sponsors of the Newgate Street Clock include the City of London,
J&T Windmills, Bobinet, Sir Harry Djanogly, Charles Frodsham
& Co Ltd, Fromanteel Ltd, Christopher Hurrion, Byram N
Jeejeebhoy, Raffety & Walwyn Ltd, The Wilky Group, Anthony
Woodburn Ltd and the Clockmakers’ Company.
The design of the clock draws its inspiration from the work of
Joseph Windmills, a 17th century clockmaker whose first workshop
was at the junction of Newgate and St Martin’s le Grand in the
City. The wandering hour dial was devised for domestic clocks in
the mid-17th century and immediately adopted by a few leading
London makers. In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, the
design was adapted for use in a few exclusive London-made pocket
watches, including a group by Windmills. The hour numerals pass in
turn across an aperture in the upper part of the circular dial,
pointing as they travel, to the minutes. As a new hour rises, so
the old one sets.
This ingenious mechanism has been adapted for the Newgate Street
Clock by renowned clockmakers Smith of Derby to create a blend of
high quality traditional engineering and state-of-the-art
electronics.
It has a stainless steel dial, makes use of modern technology,
such as LEDs and GPS signal correction and is wind and
weather-proof.
The Newgate Street Clock will be the focal point in a busy part
of the City, popular with City workers and visitors, and stands in
the middle of an area redeveloped as part of the City of London’s
Street Scene initiative, to improve the urban environment.
The Street Scene project has transformed that part of Newgate
Street, improving pedestrian access across the road, repaving it in
York stone, removing barriers and planting trees and climbers. This
was funded by Section 106 agreements from Merrill Lynch and
Paternoster Associates, related to their previous planning
agreements.
Victor Callister, Street Scene Manager at the City of London,
said:
"It is rare to have a wandering hour clock of this size and we
are delighted with Joanna’s final design, which will be a real
talking point for the City."
David Poole, Master of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers,
said:
"This is an outstanding opportunity for the Company to
commemorate its 375th Anniversary. The role of the Company and the
craft of clockmaking have changed over the years but we can today
feel justifiably proud of both the design and manufacture of this
unique timekeeper."
Victoria Campbell, Marketing Director for J&T Windmills,
said:
"J&T Windmills is a new brand of precious metal, mechanical
English timepieces and is honoured to be a co-sponsor of the
Newgate Street Clock. The clock acts as both a significant new
landmark or meeting point and also as a wonderful recognition of
the exceptional craftsmanship of two very skilled 17th century
English clockmakers. Our aim to revive the legacy of Joseph &
Thomas Windmills with the launch of J&T Windmills timepieces is
in perfect harmony with the Newgate Street Clock, given that the
clock design is based on an original Windmills dial. It’s also a
timely reminder of the origins of clock making in the City of
London at a time when England, not Switzerland, led the way
worldwide in horology."
Richard Stenning, Director of Charles Frodsham & Co,
said:
"Charles Frodsham & Co. is delighted to be a sponsor of the
Newgate Street clock. As manufacturers of precision clocks and
watches for over 170 years it is a privilege to be associated with
such a prestigious project, which has brought together some of the
finest talents of horological artistry and construction of the 21st
Century. Joanna Migdal’s innovative design, together with Smith of
Derby’s craftsmanship has produced a unique and lasting public
clock for the City of London."
Ends
Notes to Editors
Since the introduction of the Street Scene Challenge in 2002,
the City of London has been the leader in development of high
quality public spaces in London.
Working in collaboration with architects and developers, Street
Scene manages the appearance of the City’s streets, enhances the
public realm and facilitates the flow of pedestrians and vehicles
around the City of London:
- Over 4km of streets and enough open space in the City to fill
six football pitches, over 40,000m2, has been
transformed
- There are 650 planters in the City. Some of which are of
bespoke design and weigh 2.5 tonnes.
- 103 new trees have been planted in the Square Mile.
- Pedestrian numbers outweigh motor vehicles in the City enabling
enhancement schemes to prioritise pedestrian uses and focus on
improving the pedestrian experience.
- 42 Street Scene enhancement schemes have been completed to
date.
- These range from simple paving schemes to 2000m2 new public
spaces.
The City of London Corporation provides local
government services for the Square Mile, the financial and
commercial heart of Britain. It is committed to maintaining and
enhancing the status of the business City as the world's leading
international financial and business centre through its policies
and services. Its responsibilities also extend far beyond the City
boundaries and include management of the Barbican Centre, Central
Criminal Court at the Old Bailey, 10,000 acres of open space
including Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest, three wholesale food
markets as well as acting as the London Port Health Authority.
The Street Scene Challenge plays a key role in
fulfilling the City of London’s commitment to improving the City’s
streets and creating a refined and legible urban environment for
the City’s residents, workers and visitors. Whilst every scheme is
different, in general Street Scene Initiative schemes are funded by
a partnership between the City of London and an interested party
such as a developer, building owner, or Transport for London. The
City of London is committed to continually improving the appearance
and function of the City’s streets, to provide a high quality
environment that is fitting for the world’s leading financial and
business centre.
Joanna Migdal has been a maker of sundials,
clocks and public sculpture for 25 years. Working from her
purpose-built studio in Bix, near Henley-on-Thames. Her work in the
City of London includes a bronze armillary sphere at Gray’s Inn and
the Millennium Measure (a steel and engraved glass obelisk)
underneath the Millennium Bridge.
www.sundialsomething.com.
Smith of Derby was founded in 1856 and has made
and maintained important clocks throughout the world, including the
celebrated clock at St Paul’s Cathedral. It is probably the world’s
oldest surviving clockmaking firm.
www.smithofderby.com
Worshipful Company of Clockmakers was founded
in 1631 to regulate and encourage the art and mystery of watch and
clock making and its related skills. The Company still includes a
majority of members who are involved in horology and through its
Museum and Educational Trust it maintains the Clockmakers Museum
and Library, next to the mediaeval Guildhall.
www.clockmakers.org
Press enquiries
Lesley Mair, 020 7332 1754
or 07785 528 453
Email.
Images of the clock available on request.