Historic Clock at Kelsey Square

Most of you will be familiar with the clock gracing the frontage of Haq’s Barbers at the corner of Kelsey Square. The clock dates back to 1872 and was made by Gillett & Bland, which was one of the first steam powered clock companies in the world. It is still in business as Gillett & Johnston, now operating in modern premises in Surrey, making clocks for distribution all over the world.

 

The building on Kelsey Square is owned by commercial cleaners Lancaster Contracts, whose offices occupy the upper floors.

The weight for the clock runs all the way from the eaves down into the barber’s basement, and Nick Lancaster and his father lavish tender loving care on maintaining the clock for the community.

 

Views of the mechanism

 

The History of Gillett & Johnston

William Gillett was the founder of the firm.  He first began as a clock maker in Hadlow, Kent under the patrionage of Lord Sackville-West.  He then moved to Clerkenwell, London and from there to Croydon where he established his business in 1844.

Charles Bland became a partner around 1854 and brought his considerable skills as a salesman to the company and it was through his influence that turret and public clocks were first introduced to the business.  The company was one of the first steam-powered clock factories in the world and in 1868 the well known clock tower at the factory was built as a working advertisement.

The company became known as Gillett & Bland.

Arthur Johnston bought a partnership in the firm in 1877 and the firm became known as Gillett, Bland & Co until Charles Bland’s death in 1884 when the company name was changed to Gillett & Co.  During this time the business was further extended with the development of the Bell Foundry as there was a need to supply bells for the clocks.

The title Gillett & Johnston appears to have been used from around 1877 onwards and it was during this period that Arthur Johnston took over full control of the foundry.

Cyril F Johnston joined his father in the business in 1902 and was made a partner in 1907.      In 1905 the earliest tuning machine was installed and by 1909 Cyril’s skills in bell tuning were already being noticed.  He first began to take an interest in Canon Simpson’s theories of tuning at the age of 22 and carried out many experiments before perfecting his own method of tuning.  It was during these years that Cyril perfected the lost art of tuning bells and his method is widely acknowledged to be the finest in the world.

During the first World War, the factory installed suitable machinery and was involved in the manufacture of munitions.  An extension was soon necessary as the output rose to nearly 40,000 fuses per week which required the employment of over 1,250 men and women working both day and night.    After the signing of the Armistice the plant was restored to it’s peacetime occupation and the extra space developed to support the war effort had specially designed machinery for bells, Turret and small clocks installed.

Between 1844 and 1950 more than 14,000 Tower clock installations were manufactured at the Croydon factory.  In 1925 the company became known as the Croydon Bell Foundry Ltd and in 1930 the name changed again to Gillett & Johnston Ltd.

In 1948 Cyril Johnston resigned as Managing Director of Gillett & Johnston over a matter of policy and in 1958 the bell founding side of the business was sold to Cope Allman International and the clock section was bought by Synchronome.

Cecil Hector Coombes worked for Gillett & Johnston for many years – during World War II in the drawing office and eventually becoming Overseas Marketing & Sales Manager.  In 1962 Cecil bought the business and returned operations to Croydon.  The business soon outgrew the first premises and relocated to Sanderstead Road where the business continued to thrive, carrying out clock and bell work both at home and overseas.

On Cecil’s premature death in 1972 the business was managed by his widow, Doris Coombes, and upon her retirement in 1976 her son Stephen Coombes became Managing Director, which position he holds today.

Stephen joined his father in the business in 1964 after completing his engineering training and his experience covers clocks and the rehanging of bells, both here and abroad.

Gillett & Johnston is very much a family business, with Stephen’s wife Jenny and their daughter Sophie and her husband Gerry helping in the business. In 2012 the company moved to new modern premises in Bletchingley, Surrey where they continue to carry out the manufacture, maintenance and service of both clocks and bells for distribution throughout the UK and abroad.

Recent commissions include:

  • Khartoum University, Sudan
  • St. John’s Cathedral, Hong Kong
  • Queen Mary’s Building (Royal Naval College), Greenwich
  • King William Building, Greenwich
  • Sandringham Estate
  • Abbotts Hospital, Guildford
  • Cadogan Hall, Sloane Terrace, London
  • St. John’s Church, Hampstead Heath
  • St. Mary’s Church, Cowes, Isle of Wight
  • St. Thomas’ Church, Johannesburg

 

Beckenham High Street Improvement works

Update – Monday 28th May 2018

  • Paving has been completed between 161 and 165 High Street.
  • Kerbing and new paving has been in laid in front of HSBC.
  • Kerbing and paving work has commenced outside the Bricklayers Arms on the South-East corner of the War Memorial roundabout.
  • New bollards have been installed at Beckenham Green.

Phase 5 works Lidl to Village Way.

  • Since Monday 21 May the junction between Burnhill Road and Kelsey Square has been closed to traffic. This will last for up to 8 weeks. Kelsey Lane remains two-way between Uplands and Wayside where it is closed to traffic. Pedestrian access is maintained from Burnhill Road, Kelsey Square and Kelsey Lane to the High Street. This set up will be monitored to see if additional signage will be required. From Fairfield Road to Kelsey Park Road the one way will be reversed meaning traffic will drive up Fairfield then turn LEFT into Burnhill Road. Lidl’s delivery lorries will use the car park, so watch out for reversing trucks. Marshalls should be directing traffic.
  • Electrical connections and reinstatement will be continued for the crossing at HSBC.
  • The laying of specially designed paving will continue outside of Prezzo.

War Memorial Roundabout

  • Paving work will continue outside the Bricklayers Arms on the South-East corner of the War Memorial roundabout.

Traffic Management

Two way traffic has been reinstated between Bromley Road and Manor Road. Two way traffic has also been reinstated between Thornton’s Corner and Fairfield Road to enable access to Fairfield Road without using the main diversion.

All diverted bus routes should return to normal when the road closures end, expected to be in late September 2018.

Beckenham Improvements work update

 21st May 2018

Completed works.

  • Paving has been laid between 161 and 165 High Street.
  • Kerbing and new paving has been in laid in front of Lidl.
  • The construction of parking bays has been completed outside 161 to 165 High Street.
  • Kerbing work has commenced outside the Bricklayers Arms near the War Memorial. .
  • New bollards and sub surfacing will be installed at Beckenham Green.

Next week’s works.

  • From Monday the 21st the junction between Burnhill Road and Kelsey Square will be closed to traffic. Kelsey Lane will remain two-way between Uplands and Wayside where it will be closed to traffic. Pedestrian access will be maintained from Burnhill Road, Kelsey Square and Kelsey Lane to the High Street. From Fairfield Road to Kelsey Park Road the one way will be reversed meaning traffic will drive up Fairfield then turn LEFT into Burnhill Road. Lidl’s delivery lorries will use the car park, so watch out for reversing trucks. Marshalls should be directing traffic.
  • Electrical connections and reinstatement will be made for the pedestrian crossing opposite HSBC.
  • The laying of specially designed paving will start outside of Prezzo.
  • Paving will continue between the Q-Bar and Village Way. This will require pedestrians temporarily diverted on to the new parking bays.
  • Paving work will continue outside the Bricklayers Arms on the South-East corner of the War Memorial roundabout.

Two way traffic has been reinstated between Bromley Road and Manor Road. After the May Bank Holiday the High Street between Thornton’s Corner and Fairfield Road will be reopened for two way traffic to enable access to Fairfield Road without using the main diversion.

Beckenham High Street Improvements

Beckenham Improvements work update 14 May 2018

Phase 5 works Lidl to Village Way.

Completed works.

  • The road resurfacing has been completed to Lidl, and the suspended parking bays reopened.
  • Kerbing and new paving has been in laid in front of Lidl.
  • The construction of parking bays has commenced outside 161 to 165 High Street.
  • Kerbing work has commenced outside the Bricklayers Arms on the South-East corner of the War Memorial roundabout

Next week’s works.

  • Kerbing and paving will continue from Lidl towards Prezzo (148-151).
  • In Kelsey Lane a temporary, small overtaking space will be installed. In lieu of potential access disruption to residents of the road, potholes in the unmade surfacing will be filled.
  • Construction of the parking bays outside 161 to 165 will continue.
  • Kerbing, drainage and paving will be continued on the South-East corner of the War Memorial roundabout.
  • New bollards and sub surfacing will be installed at Beckenham Green.

From the 21st May the junction of Burnhill Road and Kelsey Square will be closed to traffic (i.e. no vehicle access to the High Street).

Hours of Operation In order to maintain access to all shop entrances pavement laying will have to be conducted out of normal hours between 18pm and 20pm on some days. We do understand that this can be a nuisance and FM Conway will endeavour to keep noise disturbance to a minimum during these times.

High Street Overnight Resurfacing – Bus Diversions

Correct information on the bus diversions during the resurfacing of the High Street

Nightly from 8pm to 5am until Saturday 12 June

Resurfacing will mean closure of the High Street

Bus route changes

227, 54, and 354 will turn left at the War Memorial from Beckenham Road.

367 will turn left at Village way and right along Rectory Road at the War Memorial.

227 and 367 will turn right at Beckenham Junction to return to Bromley road at St Georges.

352 will be back on its normal route from Village Way only between 8pm and 5am during this resurfacing work.