Britain used to lead the world in Horology. In the seventeenth and eigtheenth centuries, English clock and watch makers were much in abundance - in the same way that Swiss watchmakers are today. It was John Harrison who solved the problem of Longitude with his Maritime clock. It was the Great Fire of the London that destroyed more than 160 great premises of clockmakers. This and a number of other reasons led to Switzerland gradually overtaking Britain and becoming the centre for great horology: a place it occupies to this day.
In recent years there has been a resurgence of British Horology. English watch maker George Daniels has revolutionised mechanical watch-making by inventing the co-axial escapement that has transformed mechanical watches. This mechanism reduces friction in a watch, ensures greater accuracy and much less need for servicing of the parts. It has been adopted primarily by Omega, and the co-axial escapement is now incorporated in all their automatic watches.
At a different level, the new Joseph and Thomas Windmills Company (named after the two great 17th & 18th Century English horologists of that name), has been established in order to create for the British consumer, an affordable mechanical watch - hand-made in England (albeit with a Swiss movement inside). Windmill watches are displayed in the Clockmakers Museum in London's Guildhall and well worth a look. They all have classic British designs and hark back to our golden era of watch making.
So I was disappointed to see that, despite this modest revival in British Horology, the Skills Funding Agency have arbitrarily cut funding for two key courses in Horology - the only two of its kind in the United Kingdom. This is despite the growing demand for these courses, and the wider interest in horology.
I have tabled a House of Commons Motion opposing this unnecessary and damaging decision:
"That this House is concerned that the funding available for the two accredited qualifications for clock and watchmaking offered by the awarding body EMTA Awards Ltd (EAL) in conjunction with the British Horological Institute have had their funding cut by the Skills Funding Agency with effect from 31 July 2010 without adequate consultation or a proper notice period; is further concerned that there was a very short and inadequately advertised window of opportunity in which to object; notes that there is an existing and growing demand for these qualifications, both from students and the watch and clock service industry; further notes that the cuts in funding could threaten the existence of the last course available in the UK leading to accredited qualifications for training clock and watchmakers at Birmingham City University; believes that this centre of horological excellence provides a unique opportunity to prepare students to service clocks and the rapidly increasing number of hi-tech complicated watches, which is a growth industry; further believes that such niche qualifications in highly specialised trades are valuable to British industry; and calls on the Government to review this decision, in light of the rich and centuries-old tradition of clock and watchmaking in the British Isles, and also in light of the jobs and economic growth offered by the sector.
In recent years there has been a resurgence of British Horology. English watch maker George Daniels has revolutionised mechanical watch-making by inventing the co-axial escapement that has transformed mechanical watches. This mechanism reduces friction in a watch, ensures greater accuracy and much less need for servicing of the parts. It has been adopted primarily by Omega, and the co-axial escapement is now incorporated in all their automatic watches.
At a different level, the new Joseph and Thomas Windmills Company (named after the two great 17th & 18th Century English horologists of that name), has been established in order to create for the British consumer, an affordable mechanical watch - hand-made in England (albeit with a Swiss movement inside). Windmill watches are displayed in the Clockmakers Museum in London's Guildhall and well worth a look. They all have classic British designs and hark back to our golden era of watch making.
So I was disappointed to see that, despite this modest revival in British Horology, the Skills Funding Agency have arbitrarily cut funding for two key courses in Horology - the only two of its kind in the United Kingdom. This is despite the growing demand for these courses, and the wider interest in horology.
I have tabled a House of Commons Motion opposing this unnecessary and damaging decision:
"That this House is concerned that the funding available for the two accredited qualifications for clock and watchmaking offered by the awarding body EMTA Awards Ltd (EAL) in conjunction with the British Horological Institute have had their funding cut by the Skills Funding Agency with effect from 31 July 2010 without adequate consultation or a proper notice period; is further concerned that there was a very short and inadequately advertised window of opportunity in which to object; notes that there is an existing and growing demand for these qualifications, both from students and the watch and clock service industry; further notes that the cuts in funding could threaten the existence of the last course available in the UK leading to accredited qualifications for training clock and watchmakers at Birmingham City University; believes that this centre of horological excellence provides a unique opportunity to prepare students to service clocks and the rapidly increasing number of hi-tech complicated watches, which is a growth industry; further believes that such niche qualifications in highly specialised trades are valuable to British industry; and calls on the Government to review this decision, in light of the rich and centuries-old tradition of clock and watchmaking in the British Isles, and also in light of the jobs and economic growth offered by the sector.
I have also written to Government Ministers about this and hope to do an Adjournment Debate on supporting British Horology, sometime when the Parliamentary Recess ends. We should be backing the resugence of British Clock and watchmakers - not trying to stifle it.
P.S. For a brief summary of the history British clock and watch making, click on HERE
by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com
Thank you for this Rob. This is a subject near to my heart as both my father and my uncle were clock and watchmakers.
ReplyDeleteThe coming of the battery powered watch and clock signalled the demise of the beautifully made mechanical models, although the repairing business continued for a good many years because of those who still had so-called old-fashioned models.
As the proud possessor of several beautiful gold wrist watches, of a lovely clock, and of my father's wrist watch and pocket watch, it has become a hard task to find repairers when required.
I welcome your efforts to help the industry's revival, and to ensure that when the few remaining craftsmen retire, there will be new qualified and experienced workers to keep the flag flying.