Clock
Category
Horology
Date
Unknown
Materials
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South Foreland Lighthouse, Kent
NT 1286872
Summary
A clock which is unique to South Foreland and it has the name written across the face.
Full description
Every lighthouse has a clockwork mechanism to move the optical lens at a prescribed speed. For calibration they also had clocks manufactured that were unique to each particular lighthouse. The clock had a second dial which moved at the speed of the optical drive. Colin Wortley worked for Trinity House for many years and became their Chief Engineer. He was awarded the clock in recognition of his retirement, as well as receiving a MBE for his services to lighthouses. Responsible for all the Trinity House lighthouses and Blackwell Workshops in London, he was also involved with manufacturing parts to make the South Foreland clockwork mechanism operational in the early 2000s.
Provenance
Presented by Trinity House to Colin Wortley, Chief Engineer in 2005 on the occasion of his retirement and by descent to his wife Patricia Wortley, who presented the clock to the National Trust in 2019.