How does anybody know what time it is in Warminster?

By torygilkes | Saturday, January 02, 2010, 18:39

We may have clocked up another year - but how easy is it to tell the time in Warminster? From the clocks on view to the passer by the answer is - not very.

Working but not correct - the window in the old post office has a clock and some good reflections.
When did the hands on this clock in Church Street last move?
Coat of Arms, Clock and Bell above the front entrance of the old town hall

To start in the middle of the town there is the 19th century clock on the old town hall. Grandly placed above a coat of arms and beneath a bell it has been stuck at 6.40 for goodness knows how long and there is no knowing when it might start up again.

Then there are two clocks on the old post office building - an ordinary looking office version in one window is working well but at 11 this morning its hands showed it to be approaching 3.30. The older clock, high on the front facade, is working but was at least a quarter of an hour too fast this morning.

A fossil of a clock hangs on the corner of a house by the obelisk. It has had its hands set at 6.30 ever since I have started trying to find out the time.

Of course there is a historic clock in the Chapel of St Lawrence but without a face it isn't exactly any help for passers by wanting to know if they are late for their appointment. The clock may be absolutely on time when it chimes the quarter hours but only if you happen to pass on the hour will you know the time.

Another clock, probably less known, is available for public information in the Boreham Road at no 70 on Holly Lodge, but that too was not much help this morning in finding out the time.

So never mind the so-called road improvements, the pedestrian crossing we can't understand, the threat of our library being demolished, perhaps a timely new year resolution for Warminster might be to have a clock showing the right time?

Maybe Warminster knows that with many people carrying a mobile phone with instant access to the correct time there is no longer any need to have a public clock. Perhaps they could all be removed and nobody would notice?

Here for the record are some photos - no way to show on a website that in fact they are not working - it needs a personal visit to check that out - see Gallery

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Comments

your question on clocks is interesting in as much that some one has noticed they are there!, the old post office clock is in actual fact owned by the town! it was purchased by donations at the time the building was built as a savings bank, last rebuilt by myself some 20 years ago, and was the first clock i would suggest in Wiltshire, with a gas ring that lit automatically at a preset time, standing in front of a reflector which allowed the face, which is of glass, to be illuminated, the pilot burner was alight all the time!, the heat and smoke must have been incredible in such a confined roof area such as it is, a wonder that the whole building never caught light and burned down!. luckily, electricity came into use very soon after its installation, so when electric lighting was installed in the building the gas system was made redundant, but they never installed a bulb behind the face, that is until i wired one in at the time of the rebuild. the clock is wound weekly by a dedicated volunteer from the post office, maintenance is still the responsibility of the town council.

By theclockman at 20:00 on 08/02/10
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It would be agreat shame to move this clock. Would it not be better to leave it where it is, get it working, and let folk on the school run, on their way to work etc, benefit from the location it is in?

By derryhawk at 15:54 on 29/01/10
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Thanks for this offer - who is responsible? - that is the question.

I have discovered that the clock on the corner by the obelisk is owned by the Conservative Club which used to own the house it hangs on.

How about, with a general election on the horizon, a big campaign being launched to move the clock to its current premises in Prestbury Drive?

This could show how the Tories can make things happen and get things that have been broken working again? - now there's a challenge!

By torygilkes at 09:46 on 26/01/10
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Im a clock restorer specialising in the care of this type of clock, I would be deighted to take a look at them. If anyone knows who is resposible for them get in touch.

By wiltsclocks at 12:36 on 11/01/10
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Anybody know of any other clocks on view in Warminster?

By torygilkes at 16:03 on 02/01/10
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