Clockmakers | Museum & Archive
Source: https://www.clockmakers.org/museum-archive
Archived: 2026-04-23 15:32
Clockmakers | Museum & Archive
Museum & Archive
The Clockmakers' Museum holds a world-class collection of clocks, watches and items relating to the art of horology, on permanent display at the Science Museum in London. The Clockmakers' library and archive is housed at the Guildhall Library in the City of London.
The Museum collection comprises around 1400 objects, of which the majority are on display, including almost all of its notable pieces. Within the collection there are more than 600 watches, 90 clocks, and 30 marine chronometers, along with sundials, tools and other pieces relating to the Clockmakers' Company and the art of clock and watchmaking and hand engraving. The narrative of the Museum's display focuses particularly on the development of clock- and watchmaking in London in the period between c.1600 and 1850. It includes pieces by many of the great London makers, including John Fromanteel, Edward East, Daniel Quare and Thomas Tompion. Part of the display also looks at contemporary British clock and watchmaking and includes a number of pieces by the eminent watchmaker Dr George Daniels.
The Clockmakers' Museum is the oldest museum with a collection specifically of clocks, watches and sundials.
about the origins of the collection
The origins of the Museum's collection can be traced back to 1814, with the establishment of a library of important horological books by the Clockmakers' Company.
The following year the great clockmaker Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy acquired three examples of horological objects from the property sale of the late clockmaker Alexander Cumming, which he donated to the Clockmakers' library. In 1816, as more object 'specimens' were donated, the Library Committee expressed its interest in acquiring more examples of work by the early clock and watchmakers in order to document the history of the profession, and in doing so laid the foundations of what has now grown to be the Clockmakers' Museum.
By the 1870’s the Company had concerns about the lack of space available for it to organise and display the collection in a suitable manner, as well as the difficulty in enabling access for its members to the collection and library. A decision was made to deposit both assets within the new Library and Museum at the Guildhall, which opened its doors to the public in 1873. The Museum stayed within the Guildhall complex for the next 141 years, until its closure at that location in 2014.
In 2015 the Clockmakers' Museum moved its collection to the Science Museum in South Kensington, where it occupies a gallery on the second floor. Although housed within the Science Museum, it remains an independent museum, accredited in its own right by
Arts Council England
. The Company's library and archive still remains at the Guildhall Library. A list of former Librarians, Curators and Keepers can be
found here
.
The Collectors' Cabinet
The Collectors’ Cabinet display gives museum visitors the chance to see extraordinary objects loaned from public and private horological collections. The display is temporary and themed around a particular subject. The current display celebrates the royal clockmaker Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy, a key founder of the Clockmakers’ Museum.
Click here to find out more
Activities for Children
Explore our collection and learn about telling the time with these activities to do in the museum, and at home.
Click here to find out more
Detail of the bureau and bookcase, purchased in 1817 to house the Company's library and collection. Museum No. 1065
Demonstration of watchmaking at a Science Museum Lates event
Engraving detail from a clock dial by Samuel Knibb, Museum No. 559
Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal absorbed in the display at the grand re-opening of the Clockmakers' Museum, 2015.
The Clockmakers' Museum
Location:
Science Museum,
Exhibition Road,
South Kensington,
London,
SW7 2DD
Opening times:
10.00 - 18.00 daily
Last entry 17.15. Visit the Science Museum website to book your free ticket for entry
Library and Archive
Location:
Guildhall Library,
Aldermanbury,
London,
EC2V 7HH
Opening times:
Monday: 10.00-16.00 (last entry 15.30
Tuesday: 10.00-16.00 (last entry 15.30)
Wednesday: 10.00-16.00 (last entry 15.30)
Thursday: 10.00-16.00 (last entry 15.30)
Friday: Closed
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
By prior appointment only. Visit the Guildhall Library website
Museum and Archive enquiries
If you have an enquiry about The Clockmakers’ Museum and Archive, or the history of the Clockmakers’ Company, please fill out the enquiry form. Please note that we do not carry out valuations of clocks and watches.
enquiry form
Museum & Archive
The Clockmakers' Museum holds a world-class collection of clocks, watches and items relating to the art of horology, on permanent display at the Science Museum in London. The Clockmakers' library and archive is housed at the Guildhall Library in the City of London.
The Museum collection comprises around 1400 objects, of which the majority are on display, including almost all of its notable pieces. Within the collection there are more than 600 watches, 90 clocks, and 30 marine chronometers, along with sundials, tools and other pieces relating to the Clockmakers' Company and the art of clock and watchmaking and hand engraving. The narrative of the Museum's display focuses particularly on the development of clock- and watchmaking in London in the period between c.1600 and 1850. It includes pieces by many of the great London makers, including John Fromanteel, Edward East, Daniel Quare and Thomas Tompion. Part of the display also looks at contemporary British clock and watchmaking and includes a number of pieces by the eminent watchmaker Dr George Daniels.
The Clockmakers' Museum is the oldest museum with a collection specifically of clocks, watches and sundials.
about the origins of the collection
The origins of the Museum's collection can be traced back to 1814, with the establishment of a library of important horological books by the Clockmakers' Company.
The following year the great clockmaker Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy acquired three examples of horological objects from the property sale of the late clockmaker Alexander Cumming, which he donated to the Clockmakers' library. In 1816, as more object 'specimens' were donated, the Library Committee expressed its interest in acquiring more examples of work by the early clock and watchmakers in order to document the history of the profession, and in doing so laid the foundations of what has now grown to be the Clockmakers' Museum.
By the 1870’s the Company had concerns about the lack of space available for it to organise and display the collection in a suitable manner, as well as the difficulty in enabling access for its members to the collection and library. A decision was made to deposit both assets within the new Library and Museum at the Guildhall, which opened its doors to the public in 1873. The Museum stayed within the Guildhall complex for the next 141 years, until its closure at that location in 2014.
In 2015 the Clockmakers' Museum moved its collection to the Science Museum in South Kensington, where it occupies a gallery on the second floor. Although housed within the Science Museum, it remains an independent museum, accredited in its own right by
Arts Council England
. The Company's library and archive still remains at the Guildhall Library. A list of former Librarians, Curators and Keepers can be
found here
.
The Collectors' Cabinet
The Collectors’ Cabinet display gives museum visitors the chance to see extraordinary objects loaned from public and private horological collections. The display is temporary and themed around a particular subject. The current display celebrates the royal clockmaker Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy, a key founder of the Clockmakers’ Museum.
Click here to find out more
Activities for Children
Explore our collection and learn about telling the time with these activities to do in the museum, and at home.
Click here to find out more
Detail of the bureau and bookcase, purchased in 1817 to house the Company's library and collection. Museum No. 1065
Demonstration of watchmaking at a Science Museum Lates event
Engraving detail from a clock dial by Samuel Knibb, Museum No. 559
Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal absorbed in the display at the grand re-opening of the Clockmakers' Museum, 2015.
The Clockmakers' Museum
Location:
Science Museum,
Exhibition Road,
South Kensington,
London,
SW7 2DD
Opening times:
10.00 - 18.00 daily
Last entry 17.15. Visit the Science Museum website to book your free ticket for entry
Library and Archive
Location:
Guildhall Library,
Aldermanbury,
London,
EC2V 7HH
Opening times:
Monday: 10.00-16.00 (last entry 15.30
Tuesday: 10.00-16.00 (last entry 15.30)
Wednesday: 10.00-16.00 (last entry 15.30)
Thursday: 10.00-16.00 (last entry 15.30)
Friday: Closed
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
By prior appointment only. Visit the Guildhall Library website
Museum and Archive enquiries
If you have an enquiry about The Clockmakers’ Museum and Archive, or the history of the Clockmakers’ Company, please fill out the enquiry form. Please note that we do not carry out valuations of clocks and watches.
enquiry form