About the workshop

Harcourt Clockmakers was opened in 1962 by Edward Harcourt, a few streets from the clock and watch trade that has worked in Clerkenwell for centuries. The bench has passed down through the workshop since, and we still work much as it always has: by hand, one movement at a time.

We believe a good clock is worth keeping running. Much of what reaches us is not broken beyond repair but simply tired — dried oil, worn bearings, a mainspring at the end of its life. Put right properly, a mechanical clock will outlast its owner.

We are a small bench and do not rush work. A straightforward service is usually ready within two to three weeks; a full restoration takes longer, and we will always tell you honestly what a piece needs before we begin.

Apprenticeship

Clockmaking is a trade best learned slowly. We take an apprentice from time to time and are glad to talk to anyone serious about learning the craft.