Following the extensive redevelopment work throughout 2025, our English long-case clock on the ground floor was overdue for some much-needed maintenance.
Made from mahogany and other woods, its highly decorative case is typical of Bristol clock cases produced towards the end of the 18th century. The clock has an eight-day movement and features an automaton illustrating verses from the biblical story of the Dream of Nebuchadnezzar. In the dream, a divine messenger commands that a great tree be cut down, with its stump bound in iron and copper to prevent it from growing until Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges God’s omnipotence.
It was this eight-day movement inside the case that demanded the most attention, having lost its ability to chime and keep time accurately. When the movement was removed, our curators discovered that the clock lines suspending both weights had become tangled and dislodged from the grooves in their winding drums. This required the team to meticulously unwind the entire coil before carefully winding it back again to ensure the correct weight distribution.
Their hard work paid off, and the clock is now reliably chiming on the hour — much to the delight of our guests (and somewhat to the chagrin of the staff working in the office next door!). Do take a moment to see this beautiful object during your next visit and, if the timing is right, keep an ear out for its delightful sound.
Caring for historic objects like this long-case clock takes time, skill and ongoing support. Donations help us conserve and protect the collection, ensuring these remarkable objects can continue to be enjoyed by future generations.
If you’d like to support our work, please consider making a donation today.