Question

To ask the Chairman of Committees what is the reason for the placement of the new clock at the end of the Content Lobby.

The clock, known as Lord Grimthorpe’s regulator, was bequeathed to the House of Lords by Edward Heywood. Lord Grimthorpe was also the designer of Parliament’s Great Clock.

Upon Mr Heywood’s death last year, the clock was delivered to Parliament and potential locations for its display were discussed by the House of Lords Works of Art Committee. As it is a wall mounted timepiece, there were limited locations in which to display it, and the niche at the end of the Content Lobby proved to be ideal as it could be viewed by Peers and is relatively safe from accidental damage. It can also be easily accessed for regular winding and maintenance.

Before it went on display in the February half term Recess, the mechanism and case were restored. There will be a piece explaining the clock’s history in this month’s Red Benches and a short note about it produced in due course.