The history of clock and watchmaking in the UK reflects centuries of innovation, craftsmanship, and global influence. From monumental mechanical clocks to the fine precision of wristwatches, British horologists have made significant contributions to timekeeping and the wider field of horology.
14th–16th Century – The early days of clockmaking
The UK’s clockmaking history began in the 14th century with the introduction of mechanical tower clocks. These large, weight-driven devices, such as the famous clock at Salisbury Cathedral (c. 1386), were installed in churches and town halls to regulate public time. These early clocks lacked hands or faces and marked time audibly, using bells. By the late Middle Ages, clockmaking emerged as a distinct craft, setting the stage for future developments.
16th-17th Century – Domestic clocks and early watches
By the 16th century, pocket watches emerged in Europe, and British watchmakers began to refine the technology. These early timepieces were worn as status symbols rather than precise tools. Lantern clocks, weight-driven and made of brass, became popular in British homes during the 17th century. These clocks often featured intricate craftsmanship.
The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers was established in 1631 to regulate standards in clock and watchmaking, underscoring the craft’s importance.
Following Christiaan Huygens’ invention in 1657, British makers adopted and improved pendulum clocks. The pendulum significantly enhanced accuracy.
17th-18th Century – Precision watch and clock making
The 17th and 18th centuries were a golden age for British clock and watchmaking, marked by major innovations and high levels of craftsmanship. Known as the “Father of English Clockmaking,” Thomas Tompion (1631 – 1713) created precision clocks and pocket watches. His designs, including early balance-spring watches, became benchmarks of quality. John Harrison (1693–1776) solved the longitude problem for maritime navigation with his marine chronometer, a milestone in both clock and watchmaking.
By the 18th century, pocket watches became essential tools for professionals and a symbol of status for the wealthy. British makers such as George Graham (who perfected the cylinder escapement) and Thomas Mudge (inventor of the lever escapement) set new standards for watch accuracy and reliability.
19th Century – The Industrial Revolution and mass production
The Industrial Revolution brought mechanisation to clock and watchmaking. Factories in Birmingham and, Coventry , and London began producing affordable, standardized timepieces. As factory production increased, traditional watch and clockmakers found it challenging to compete with cheaper, mass-produced imports from the USA and Switzerland. The 19th century saw the widespread adoption of accurate clocks and watches to regulate railway schedules, with British firms producing robust pocket watches for train conductors and engineers.
20th Century – The rise of quartz and modern innovations
The wristwatch gained popularity during World War I due to its practicality in battle, with British soldiers and officers adopting them widely. The 1970s quartz revolution, led by Japanese companies, disrupted traditional mechanical watchmaking. British manufacturers struggled to adapt, leading to the near-collapse of the domestic watch industry.
In the late 20th century, British companies like Smith of Derby (clocks) and independent watchmakers like George Daniels revived the tradition of fine mechanical horology. Daniels’ invention of the co-axial escapement (later adopted by Omega) is considered one of the most significant watchmaking innovations of the modern era.
21st Century: Heritage and independent craftsmanship
Today, UK clock and watchmaking is defined by bespoke craftsmanship, restoration, and independent innovation. Institutions like the British Horological Institute and workshops across the UK focus on restoring historical timepieces and passing on traditional skills.
Lack of awareness: Lack of general public awareness in career opportunities in the craft.
Training issues: Lack of opportunities for watch and clock making apprenticeships past a technician level. Due to the low number of master watch and clock makers in the UK and the amount of time it takes to train apprentices there are limited opportunities for those wishing to further their skills to find a master to train with.
Training issues: There is a higher industry demand for watchmakers than clockmakers and, as a result, there are more training opportunities for watchmakers. However, there are more higher level training opportunities for clock makers who want to progress past technician level, there is no current equivalent for watch making.
Financial issues: Lack of funding available for watch and clock making apprenticeships past a technician level. There are limited current schemes that offer support to trainees past an introductory level. Qualified technicians will already be earning the national living wage, however, will require a great deal of additional training typically taking a further 3-5 years to reach the skill level of a master clockmaker. This is extremely financially draining for small workshops who must cover the additional wages and the loss of earnings of the master clockmakers carrying out the training.
Health and safety challenges: particularly in relation to those working on turret clocks and public timekeepers. For example, glass work requires impact testing and water ingress checks. These additional checks are often costly and not economical which deters owners from having them restored.
Lack of access to allied crafts supporting the trade: It is now virtually impossible to create every component of a watch or clock in the UK due to a shortage of allied craft businesses, the most extreme examples being spring making (hair and mainspring) and jewel making (synthetic corundum train jewels and watch crystal), neither of which still exist in the UK on a commercial level. Rebuilding these networks of allied craftspeople takes time and is very expensive meaning watches and clocks completely fabricated in the UK are considerably more expensive to produce than those made in countries with better trade support.
Aging population: particularly effecting conservation and restoration, there are more specialists with the skills required retiring than there are entering the trade.
Set up costs: It is incredibly expensive to setup a workshop. Lathes are very expensive as are many other tools.
The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust award Scholarships to existing masters of craft to expand their skills and Apprenticeships both to those at an entry level as well as technicians who have secured a position with a master irrespective of age.
The opportunities below detail training opportunities for both watch and clock making.
British Horological Institute (BHI)
Students progress through a distance learning course (DLC) or in-person practical training.
British School of Watchmaking (BSOW)
Both are WOSTEP certified, aligning with global watchmaking standards.
West Dean College of Arts and Conservation (Chichester)
Birmingham City University (BCU)
The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers
There are only one or two manufacturers of clocks that do it on a reasonably large scale. The others do it on an individual basis when a client is found:
Independent UK crafts businesses conducting conservation and restoration of vintage and antique clocks, turret clocks, carriage clocks and/or electrical clocks, including making parts for existing pieces:
The British Horological Institute publish a list of current accredited repairers of watches, clocks and turret clocks. The list is not exhaustive and it is estimated that around half of professional “craft” watch and clock makers are on the list. An FBHI accreditation will mean that a maker has demonstrated that they can make clocks or watches in their examinations and assessments.
There are around 200-250 professional makers earning their main craft income from the conservation and restoration of vintage and antique clocks, turret clocks, carriage clocks , including high-grade and complicated mechanisms, and have the ability to make parts for existing timepieces.
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