Colchester + Ipswich Museums

Timely New Home for Clocks

An important part of Colchester’s rich history will now be opened up for more people to enjoy, as Hollytrees Museum in Colchester launches a new Clock gallery.

On Monday 28 November at 10am at Hollytrees Museum in Colchester there will be an opening of the new gallery dedicated to a significant collection of Colchester made timepieces.

MP Bob Russell will be opening and naming the new gallery which will be dedicated to the Colchester businessman Bernard Mason who gave the collection to the people of Colchester.

Some of the collection of clocks and watches were previously on display at Tymperleys museum and it is extremely important that the collection continues to be seen and the display in Hollytrees Museum, aptly named ‘The Bernard Mason Gallery’, has been created to do this.

Cllr Lyn Barton Portfolio Holder for Renaissance said: “We wanted the gallery named after Bernard Mason in recognition of the amazing contribution he made to Colchester and as a tribute to his generosity.

“Hollytrees museum is an very popular museum which attracts a wide range of audiences that regularly visit, this will mean far more people will be able to experience this incredible collection and therefore this will increase access to Colchester’ fascinating horological past.”

The significance of this fascinating collection is that it is so comprehensive, including examples by almost all the clockmakers who had businesses in the town.

The clocks and watches on display at Hollytrees Museum range in period from the mid 17th century through to the mid 19th century. The display includes the first clock Bernard Mason bought, a range of long case clocks and also some of the earlier lantern clocks, made by makers such as William Bacon, John Smorthwait and Nathaniel Hedge. A section of the display is devoted to the Hedge family specifically.

Many of the long case clocks still tick, although they might not all tell the right time! Visitors to the museum can be guaranteed to hear clocks chiming. One clock, by Gooday Proctor, is particularly musical with six bells which chime every quarter hour.

Hollytrees museum is free to visit and the clocks can be viewed from Tuesday 29 November onwards.

ENDS

Photo Opportunity available at the opening
For further details please contact Laura Welham, PR and Press Officer: 078150 88150 or communications@colchester.gov.uk

Cllr Lyn Barton, Colchester Borough Council's Portfolio Holder for Renaissance - 01206 766171


This launch is on Monday 28th November and for invited guests
The public will be able to see the new displays from Tuesday 29th November onwards.

• Hollytree Museums is free to visit and is open
• Tuesday to Sat 10am-5pm
• Sunday 11-5pm
• Closed Monday