Astronomical Clock, Bracken House

It is always important to look everywhere, when walking around London. This includes looking up as well as down, as you navigate the labyrinth of London's streets, as you never know what you will see. 

This is how I saw what could be London's strangest clock.

It is quite easy to walk by the building at 10 Cannon Street, without paying it much heed. It is much like any other office block, built in the 1950s, rising nine-storeys into the sky, with larger windows than most buildings of the time. Its only real difference is the pink sandstone cladding. But, even this doesn't really make it stand out, standing as it does on its own.

But, above the door is something that should grab your attention. At first glance it looks like an enamelled tile, or an elaborate design to draw the eye. It is, in fact, a clock. But, not a boring old clock that just tells the time. This is an astronomical clock and it really is a wonderful object.

The clock was designed by Frank Dobson and was built by Thwaites & Reed. The gilt metal and enamel was the work of Philip Bentham, which really makes the clock standout. The clock is approximately 1 metre (3 feet) in diameter.

This clock has no hands as the entire dial rotates, with the current time read from the top of the clock in an ornate frame. 

From the embellished Roman numerals we move inward to the months of the year, followed by the signs of the zodiac. At its centre is a starburst motif, in the middle of which is the face of Winston Churchill.

The face of Winston Churchill at the centre of the sunburst.

Bracken House

Bracken House, the former 'Financial Times' headquarters, was built between 1955 and 1958, and was designed by the architect Sir Albert Richardson and was built on a World War II bomb site. 

The building was named for Brendan Bracken, who would go on to become 1st Viscount Bracken. Brendan Bracken had been the former chairman of the 'Financial Times', Britain's Minister of information, from 1941, and was a good friend of Winston Churchill. 

After the war he would go on to publish 'The Economist', in 1951, and would go on to help found the 'History Today' magazine.

Most, if not all, newspaper publishers had a clock on the outside of their buildings. This was to ensure a prompt collection of newspapers for dispatch and as a public service. The clock also standardised time in an era before personal timepieces were common, and was also a symbol of their commitment to timeliness, accuracy, and civic pride. 

So, Bracken House would have a clock, but they wanted something special. What they got was an astronomical clock. This would be the last of the great newspaper publishers to have a clock installed on a new building.

With the advent of technology, many publishers moved away from Fleet Street and the City of London, in the 1980s, in favour of cheaper sites. The 'Financial Times' held on until it closed its printing services at Bracken House, in 1988.

Bracken House was the first post-war building in England to receive Grade II listed status, in 1987, which was upgraded to Grade II* listed status, in 2013.