The Clock

The tower clock was presented by Mr John Henry Whitaker in memory of his mother, Mary Ann Whitaker, who was born in 1820 and died on the 2nd March 1900.

John Whitaker lived at Sunny Hill House in Normanton, having previously lived at 2, Victoria Street, Derby. His father, Alderman Samuel Whitaker (after whom Whitaker Road is named), was the founder of the Derbyshire Building Society, and John became the society's Secretary, and later its Chief Executive Officer. He was also Secretary of the Derby Royal Infirmary, and a director of the Whitwick Colliery Company. Having a keen interest in mechanical engineering, he invented and patented a machine for breaking coal, which was installed at many collieries. He died on the 22nd November 1914, aged 54.

The clock was manufactured by John Smith & Sons of Derby in 1900 and installed in 1902. It is a flat-bed movement with a double 3 legged gravity escapement designed by Lord Grimthorpe (who also designed the Houses of Parliament clock). The pendulum weighs 2½ cwt.

The Cambridge Quarters (also known as the Westminster Quarters) are struck on bell numbers 2, 3, 4 & 7, and the hours are struck on bell number 8.