A most unusual timepiece is to be found in the West Cumbrian town of Workington.
The clock was designed by Andy Plant with sound recordings by Matt Wand. It is called ‘Lookout’.
Based on a ‘camera obscura’ it tells the time with a rotating minute hand. The minutes are shown marked in the pavement beneath.
Workington ' Camera Obscura' Clock
On the hour the clocks telescopic minute hand rises into the air to give a 360 degree view of the surroundings using a camera mounted in the arm.
Viewing windows are available in the main ball part of the clock to see the images from the camera.
Curved seating surrounding the clock incorporates speakers that emit locally produced sounds every half hour.
The recordings use voices from interviews with local people set to music specially performed by Matt himself, Stainburn Steel Band and Dearham Brass Band.
The installation was funded by the Northwest Development Agency, S. Harrison Developments Ltd and Allerdale Borough Council.
The clock was officially switched on by the Mayor of Allerdale on Saturday 1 July 2006.
Richardsons Funeral Directors
Jutting about 1m (3ft) from a red sandstone building in Penrith, Cumbria is our latest clock.
Richardsons Funeral Directors, Penrith, Cumbria
Looking up and down Victoria Road in Penrith is this clock on the Richardsons Funeral Directors building.
This is the first time we have seen a clock on a funeral directors and in some ways is quite apt. Let us know what you think via the comments section below.
Written just below the centre of the clock is the text ‘Established 1852′.
Richardsons Funeral Directors
For over 150 years the family owned business in Penrith has been arranging funerals for the local populous.
Historically many funeral directors have connections to timber or wood. Often joiners or carpenters were also the local funeral directors. In the case of Richardsons they also operate a timber merchants on Roper Street in the town.