Forgotten city clock set for London museum loan
BBCA clock renowned for its accuracy could be moved from Norwich to a London museum for about a decade.
The Gurney Clock is considered a nationally significant heritage asset but since 2015, it has been kept in storage out of view from the public.
The device was created in the 1970s to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Norwich-based Gurney Bank, which later became Barclays, and was given as a gift to the people of the city.
Norwich City Council, which owns it, is considering loaning it to London Science Museum's Clockmakers Museum for a 10-year period, where it will be restored.
Council papers describe the Gurney Clock as a "highly significant example of modern clockmaking".
It was created by master clockmaker Martin Burgess over a 12-year period, who based it on a design by John Harrison, an 18th Century clockmaker.
It has two components: A precision clock mechanism and a decorative automaton.
As part of the proposal, the clock element would move to the London museum but the automaton would remain in Norwich.
The Gurney Clock was first installed in Chapelfield Gardens park in the 1980s but it had to be moved after suffering from vandalism.
It was then installed in the recently opened Castle Mall shopping centre in 1998 but it had to be moved in 2015 for the site to be renovated.
It was placed in storage at City Hall.
Officials said agreeing to the loan would mean the clock could be returned later and could perhaps go on display at City Hall, following a project to refurbish the 1930s building.
It would be fully restored to working order while there, paid for by the museum.
Norwich City Council's Green Party-controlled cabinet members will meet next Wednesday to make a decision on the plans.
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