Act of Parliament clock
Illustration — Act of Parliament clock at a museum in Greenwich An Act of Parliament clock, also commonly known as a tavern clock, is a type of large clock originally hung in inns and taverns in the United Kingdom, beginning in the mid-18th century. Such clocks were plain in design, the faces were around two to five feet in diameter, and they were hung on the wall. The term Act of Parliament clock came about long after these clocks were already in existence.
Also recorded as tavern clock
Act of Parliament clock
T. W. Tyrrell · Published work "The George Inn, Southwark" Internet Archive identifier: georgeinnsouthwa00matzuoft, opposite p. 14 · Public domain
- Field
- wall clock
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wikidata · Q16821135 · wikipedia · Act of Parliament clock
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In 1797, a tax against clocks of five shillings was introduced in the Kingdom of Great Britain by the prime minister William Pitt. The tax was very unpopular among clockmakers and was repealed after nine months. The large clocks in inns were later widely (though incorrectly) said to have been developed as a response to this tax.
Act of Parliament clock is a wall clock.
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The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Act of Parliament clock, revision 1177194842 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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