Clocking off at museum’s historic clock collection

11 Jul 2025

An historic collection of clocks at Moyse’s Hall Museum in Bury St Edmunds is to go temporarily off display for a month to enable phased work to take place.

The clock room at the West Suffolk run museum will close from Monday 14 July. More than 100 timepieces, most from the Gershom Parkington collection, will then be moved into safe and secure spaces onsite. West Suffolk Council heritage staff will 
research the timepieces up-close and will be sharing findings across the museum’s social media profiles.

At the same time, the clock room will be redecorated without the risk of damage to the clocks. The room, which last underwent a revamp nine years ago, will reopen on 18 August.

A second phase of works will see new cases, watch drawers and digital displays put in during October. Once completed the display will also see fine art, costumes and other artefacts from the 17th to 19th centuries displayed alongside the clock collection. The second phase of works is only expected to result in the room being closed for one day only and more details will be confirmed closer to the time.

The renovations and new displays are being supported by the Gershom Parkington Bequest.

Cllr Ian Shipp, Cabinet Member for Leisure at West Suffolk Council said: “The clock collection is a popular and fascinating part of our local history enjoyed by visitors to the museum. We are delighted to have the support from the Gershom Parkington Bequest for this work to further enhance how they are displayed.”
 

---