Watches and clocks
+EC1 themes index
Clerkenwell 101
66 Clerkenwell was once the undisputed clock and watchmaking capital of Europe. By the 1790s around 7,000 people, a third of Clerkenwell’s population, were involved in the clock and watch making industries.
67 Accurist Watches was founded on St. John’s Street In 1946. Omega were in Saffron Hill, and Longines in Farringdon Road. Roamer, Seconda and Ingersoll were also in Clerkenwell. Even as recently as 1960 every shop from what is now Benugo’s on the corner of St John Street, down to Goswell Street, was involved in the watch and clock industry.
68 The Ingersoll factory at 223-227 St John Street was built in the 1930s. The production of Ingersoll watches in Clerkenwell stopped in 1948. The building was bought by Condé Nast and became the pattern factory for the fashion magazine Vogue. As a result, the building is now known as Pattern House, rather than the Ingersoll building, although the magnificent Ingersoll mosaic logo remains at the top of the building.