18th Century Tavern Clock Newsletter July 2023

I thought you might like to read about an interesting item currently in our collection, circa 18th century Tavern Clock.

Act of Parliament Clocks, more commonly known as Tavern Clocks, were displayed in Inns and Taverns throughout the United Kingdom, beginning in the mid-18th century. Such clocks were plain in design, the faces were round, two to five feet in diameter, and hung on a wall.

The term Act of Parliament Clock came about long after these clocks were already in existence. In 1797, a tax against clocks, of 5 shillings, was introduced by the then Prime Minister William Pitt. The tax was very unpopular among clockmakers and was repealed after nine months. The large clocks in Inns and Taverns were later widely, though incorrectly, said to have been developed as a response to this tax. They were however used by Landlords as the definitive time for ‘last orders’ and ‘opening/closing times’. Large enough for anyone (whatever state they may be in) to see the time from a distance. Inns and Taverns were regular and scheduled stopping points for stagecoaches travelling between towns and cities, so these clocks helped people follow timetables ensuring they would not miss their ongoing connections.

The maker of the Tavern Clock in our collection is John Simpson, a ‘known’ maker, working in Reading (Berkshire) from 1775.
Ref: Brian Loomes – ‘Watch and Clockmakers of the World’, (complete 21st century edition, p.711).

If you are interested in the Tavern Clock, or in any other items in our collection, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best wishes,

Simon