Nantwich

Nantwich is a nice little town in Cheshire, originally made prosperous as a salt producing centre in the 10th century.

Walking up from the station along Pillory Street, we come across the jewellers of C H Moody & Son, which sports the standard Rolex clock.

On the High Street we find the timbered building which includes Hope House.

Nantwich's library was once in Pillory Street, with the building now used as a museum. The current library is on Beam Street, with its rear wall facing the bus station. And hence this has been put to use to provide a clock for bus passengers, as well as decorating an otherwise blank wall. Well done to the planners.

Nantwich town centre has many fine buildings, but the gem has to be St Mary's church.

This Grade I listed church dates from the 14th century, with restoration by the renowned architect George Gilbert Scott in the 19th century.

It is only with a zoom lens that you fully appreciate the level of detail of the gargoyles and other features, way up on the building.

Looking down instead of up, I saw this in the pavement on Hospital Street. I am not sure what the clock motive is all about, but it might be reference to the Millennium Clock.

After walking around the town, I was need of some refreshment from a local hostelry. A pint of Ruddles always goes down well. Anyway, it was I good time to do a quick internet search for clocks in Nantwich. And the one that came up was the Millennium Clock which I hadn't seen. Luckily it was said to be in Cocoa Yard, almost opposite to where I was sitting.

And so here it is, the Nantwich Millennium Clock.

It is not actually that easy to tell the time from this clock - you have to look quite closely, so no good for a quick glance as you hurry by.

And it wasn't showing the correct time either.

So, Nantwich - nice little town, five clocks.

Wood Green

Continuing the theme of random London suburbs, today's visit is to Wood Green.

A short walk down from Alexandra Palace station leads you to Cambridge House in Mayes Road.

This is a fantastic looking building, with a lovely copper-surrounded clock.

The date on the clock (MDCCCXCVII) translates as 1897, and a little research reveals that this building was originally the headquarters of the confectioners Barratt & Co. Parts of the factory buildings nearby are now named the Chocolate Factory and host a wide range of small businesses.

 

Retracing our steps, we then turn east onto Station Road, past the "I Love Wood Green" sign....

....and then left up High Road. Here at the junction with Bounds Green Road we find the church of St Michael's. I couldn't find any information on this building, so you will just have to look at the pictures.

 

 

Walking up Bounds Green Road you can look across Trinity Gardens to another church.

In fact this is St Mary's Greek Orthodox Cathedral, purchased from the Methodist Church in 1970.

I couldn't resist this shop of the clock through the empty sign frame of the closed The Prince pub.

 

Back on High Road heading north, I spotted this empty frame on a school uniform shop. Looks like it could well have housed a clock.

Heading back south, it is time for a quick peek into the booking hall of Wood Green underground station.

The station, designed by Charles Holden, was built as part of the Piccadilly Line extension opened in September 1932.

Just to the south is a Morrisons supermarket, a company which is good at providing clocks on its stores. and the wood Green branch doesn't disappoint, although the design is not that exciting.

And then no more clocks heading south along High Road until we reach Turnpike Lane underground station. This one looks an awful lot like the one at Wood Green at first glance....

 

....but a comparison shows that the design of the hands is considerably different.:

Were they originally the same and one set has been subsequently replaced?

Whatever the answer is, there is another completely different clock design down at platform level.

 

From where we jump on the Tube and end our little visit to Wood Green.