antiques

Charming but serious, I love this story about clock making and repairing and the fact that one of the two centres of excellence is in a rural setting. Whilst rural settings can provide very contemporary workplaces this article serves to remind us that there are a number of highly skilled areas of work which help reinforce a positive image of rural economies.

An antique clock restorer has warned of a “dire” shortage of experts in the craft as so many are reaching retirement age.

Clockmaking is now on the Red List of Endangered Crafts, drawn up by the Heritage Crafts Association (HCA).

Mark Sampson, a clock repairer based in Gloucestershire, said young people are no longer coming into the profession.

It will become more difficult in the next 30-40 years to get clocks, both modern and antique, repaired, he said.

There are now only two training colleges offering horology courses in England; West Dean College, Sussex, and the School of Jewellery, Birmingham.