The charming house at Stourhead, a National Trust gem in Wiltshire, is bustling with activity as the historic clocks inside are readied for the end of British Summer Time.
Every week, the dedicated National Trust team meticulously winds the 300-year-old clocks to ensure their continued accuracy. As the end of British Summer Time approaches, the team diligently prepares to turn them back an hour on Sunday 27 October.
Among the notable timepieces is the Egyptian Chippendale mantel clock gracefully adorning the library. Comprising mostly original components, these age-old clocks owe their continuous ticking to the meticulous care by the house team, complemented by yearly check-ups by a skilled horologist.
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Jonathan Betts, the National Trust’s national adviser on clocks and watches, emphasized, “Looking after these vulnerable timekeepers requires skill, patience, and of course, time. It is a real privilege to still be caring for and winding such historical artefacts.”
Unlike many items under the National Trust’s guardianship, the clocks at Stourhead continue to serve their original purpose. While chairs and ceramics are preserved for aesthetic reasons, these remarkable timepieces still tick, strike, and chime just as they did centuries ago.
Visitors exploring the house at Stourhead, open daily until 3 November, will discover a variety of clocks to admire in nearly every room. For more information, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead.