Blackburn still has a few public clocks in its town centre. Not all of them tell the time correctly, or even at all.
Due to most people these days wearing watches, or using their mobile phones, finding the correct time is now at your fingertips or in your handbag or pocket. But a couple of clocks not only tell the time, but let you know all about it. Best one to start with is Blackburn Cathedral, which makes a big noise about its timekeeping. Its three dials all tell the same time and it’s always correct. Although its near neighbour, in Morrisons, chimes the same time a bit later. Whether it’s the lamb or the lion which meets the pips, is up for debate.
Unfortunately the triangle which makes up Cathedral Square has another clock. This one is high up on Blackburn Railway Station. It stays as quiet as a mouse when its neighbours sound off. Its fingers don’t seem to have moved for years, a bit like trains on a strike day. Fortunately for travellers, this clock doesn’t determine what times trains are running.
As well as the aforementioned timepieces, Blackburn’s most well-known public clock must be its tower one on King William Street. Sadly, only one of its dials tells the correct time. Though the other couple do so twice a day. This must be Blackburn’s most confusing clock.
Many Blackburners don’t realise there are more public clocks to be discovered in our town centre. If you look across from St John’s Church on Victoria Street, you will see a clock on the building at the side of a local solicitors. This timepiece always seems to be running and keeping good time. Being connected to a law firm, it should know all about doing time.
Perhaps the most mysterious public clock in our town centre is the one at Sudell Cross. It actually used to be based in one of Bradford’s railway stations. There is a plaque next to the dial which says: ‘Bought and erected in 1984 by J.H. Cartwright for the people of Blackburn’. It’s worth remembering how standard time came about due to the advent of Britain’s railways. Like the one at Blackburn Station, this tyke clock doesn’t seem to keep time on this side of the Pennines.
Time is one of those few things most of us want to believe to be accurate. But like the news, it often gets distorted. Maybe there are more public clocks ticking around Blackburn town centre? Finding them just takes a bit of time, but don’t let it wind you up.
