SCR Talk: Clocks of Castle

SCR Lecture Series

All members of the SCR, MCR and JCR welcome

Timothy Sykes

The Bishop’s Dining Room: Wednesday 4 March 2026 at 7.00pm (drinks) for 7.30pm

The Lecture:

The present clock in the courtyard of Durham Castle has stood sentinel over the College for only seventy-five years. There is, however, since the 18th century, a somewhat interrupted history of a turret (tower) clock in various locations in the Castle. From that follows conjecture as to the clock movement(s) which may have driven those clocks, of which now only a dial is to be detected from period engravings. The bell in the clock chamber may also provide some clues.

In two parts, fragments and clues from that earlier history will first be explored. The second part will then look closely, with some technical details, at the very fine clock movement of which the College is privileged to be the custodian.

The Speaker:

Timothy Sykes matriculated at University College Durham in 1973 and graduated BA in law in 1976.  He trained as a solicitor in the City of London with Clifford-Turner (now Clifford Chance) and remained with that firm for some years after admission to the Roll. He subsequently returned to the north and practised commercial law in Carlisle for thirty years, retiring in 2013. At the invitation of the Master, he joined the SCR in 2006. He is as regular a presence in College as his living in the Lake District allows. His amateur horological interests have been deployed in College over a number of years.