Terry’s famous clock is finally telling the time again – and now it’s home to a museum

For the first time in 18 years, you can rely on the time shown by the Terry’s factory clock.

Thanks to the skills of specialist horologists and some deft detective work the mechanism needed to get those large hands moving has been painstakingly recreated.

The clock stopped working when the Terry’s factory – home of the famous Chocolate Orange – was shut by owners Kraft in 2005, when they shocked the city by relocating production to Poland.  

Abandoned and falling into disrepair, the listed factory was on English Heritage’s Buildings at Risk Register when it was bought by property developer HBD in 2013.

HBD partnered with the PJ Livesey Group who redeveloped and turned parts of the former factory and clock tower into apartments.

However, the rare clock mechanism had disappeared.

HBD and PJ Livesey commissioned Smith of Derby to restore the clock faces and track down original parts to recreate the mechanism in a project that has cost more than £60,000.

And they have restored the clock to working order.

“This is a momentous day and we are very grateful to the team at Smith of Derby for providing the skills to make it happen,” said Georgina Lynch.

“The Terry’s clock was once known as the ‘kitchen clock of York’ and part of the city’s heritage and we are very proud to have played our part in seeing it restored. Terry’s is synonymous with York and the buildings are now saved and repurposed for generations to come.”

Complex projects manager for Smith of Derby, Martin Butchers, said: “This has been an amazing project that has required not just all our skills but some deft detective work by the team.

“Terry’s is a rare Waiting Train Clock, made by Gents of Leicester, which is powered by an electrical impulse from a master clock. It was a visionary concept, well ahead of its time, but by the 1940s had already started to fall out of use.

“When we came to remove the clock, we were absolutely heart-broken to discover that the actual mechanism was not there.

“Despite extensive inquiries and a great deal of effort by many, many people it was never found so we set about finding original parts to recreate it.”

This search involved speaking to horologists all over the country, chasing tip-offs and poring over auction house catalogues and eventually the team sourced the majority of the parts needed.

“We had to find replacement parts from the same era and by the same maker – Gents of Leicester – to effectively replace, as far as possible, with like for like.”

The restored the original four clock faces etched with the words Terry York which were replaced in a massive operation in 2019.

Martin said: “It is hugely satisfying for everyone who has worked on the Terry’s project over the years to complete the job and see this magnificent rare clock keeping time for York once more. I hope Noel Terry would be pleased.”

As a tribute to the incredible story of Terrys in York, the developers have created a gallery space within the clock tower which will become the Clock Tower Museum, open three days a year to allow members of the public to view the clock mechanism and read display boards telling the Terry family story.

The boards were compiled by local York resident, Stan Young.

The visitation days will be organised by the Clock Tower Museum Forum which will be comprised of the Clock Tower Management Company (Clock Tower residents) and hopefully some local volunteers.