Science and Technology
The eighteenth century was a time of expansion in Britain, and the realm of science and technology was no different. Scientific discovery led to technological innovation: from time keeping to medicine; astronomy to communications, Georgian Britain was one of the most exciting periods in our history. Read more about these fascinating scientific and technological advances right here.
Pocketing Time
Making time portable in the form of a watch was an achievement that provoked astonishment and wonder. The first watches to be made were precious objects: rare, highly valuable, signalling wealth and status.
What is time?
Today nearly everything we do is governed by the measurement of time. Our ability to read the time is something we take for granted, and which is central to our everyday lives.
A horological revolution
The 17th century saw a revolution in timekeeping and the way society made use of the measurement of time. The availability and importance of timepieces increased as clocks entered the daily lives of more and more people.
The Golden Age of Clockmaking
The golden age of clockmaking in Britain was a dramatic, even revolutionary, period in horology, when leaps in technology transformed the accuracy and reliability of timekeeping beyond anything before.
York: fashioning time
With its numerous churches and public buildings, the telling of the time must have been highly visible and audible throughout the city of York.