The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers

What The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers does

The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers is a 393-year-old City of London livery guild, incorporated by Royal Charter of King Charles I on 22 August 1631, that operates as a charitable, educational and cultural institution rather than a commercial enterprise. Its core 'assets' are the world's oldest museum dedicated to clocks, watches and sundials (approximately 1,400 objects including the Harrison H5 marine timekeeper and works by Thomas Tompion, Edward East, Daniel Quare, John Fromanteel and Dr George Daniels), the internationally significant library and archive dating from 1631 held at Guildhall Library, and the Tompion Medal, Harrison Medal and Derek Pratt Prize (£20,000) award programme. The Company serves the UK and international horological community — makers, designers, collectors, conservators, researchers, hand engravers, retailers and students — through grants, apprenticeships, lectures, dinners, outings, and Livery Schools Link outreach, with the museum freely accessible to the public via its partnership with the Science Museum in South Kensington.

Revenue mechanics are those of a non-profit guild: annual membership subscriptions on a sliding age-based scale, donations and investment returns on charitable funds, and nominal commercial income from publication sales (e.g., 'The Clockmakers of London', 2nd edition, £22.00). The membership is structured with a Freedom tier that progresses to the Livery, capped at 300 Liverymen, and the Court of Assistants (Master, Senior Warden, Renter Warden, Junior Warden, Deputy Master) is elected annually at the Installation Court — the 2026 installation took place on 27 January 2026. The Company operates from 8 Little Trinity Lane, London EC4V 2AN, with a staff listed at 1-10 employees, and is governed by its 1631 Charter and 1632 ByeLaws. It holds formal affiliations with the Science Museum, Arts Council England, Guildhall Library, UCL Observatory, the Royal Navy (HMS Protector, HMS Archer), XIII Squadron RAF, Greenwich Sea Cadets, and a network of horological institutions including the Antiquarian Horological Society, British Horological Institute, and City and Guilds of London Institute.

Name

The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers

Legal name

The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers

Website

https://clockmakers.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers is a 1631 City of London livery guild that supports horology through education, charitable grants, awards, a museum collection at the Science Museum, and a library/archive at Guildhall Library, serving makers, collectors, students, researchers and the public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Horology Membership and Cultural Services

NAICS

Museums (71211), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Watches, Clocks, Clockwork Operated Devices/Parts (3873)

akta.pro primary industry

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Clocks & Desk/Travel Timepieces (CRAKADAI), Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG)

Keywords

• Horological museum collection
• Professional membership services
• Horology education grants
• Archival research resources
• Cultural heritage conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The Company generates revenue through membership fees. Membership cost is heavily discounted on a sliding scale based on age to encourage younger members.
2. Book Sales: Sale of The Clockmakers of London publication and related books. The Clockmakers of London (2nd edition) is sold for £22.00 including postage to UK.
3. Charitable Grants: The Clockmakers' Charity makes grants for education, horological conservation and restoration projects, and charitable causes in the City of London. The Charity considers projects with significant horological interest, connection to previous members, location within City of London, public accessibility, and existing museum/charitable/private collection status.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers is a nonprofit, membership-based City of London livery guild founded under Royal Charter in 1631. It supports horological education, skills, and trade through membership networking, grants, prizes, mentoring, museum access, library and archive services, lectures, and events. Its activities also fund horological conservation and charitable causes.

Product overview

The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers is an ancient City of London guild (founded 1631) that operates as a charitable and educational organization rather than a commercial technology product company. Its services include The Clockmakers' Museum (housing over 1400 horological objects at the Science Museum), Library and Archive Services (at Guildhall Library), Education and Training Support (through partnerships with UK horological institutions), Grants and Financial Support (for apprentices and conservation projects), Prizes for Excellence (Tompion Medal, Harrison Medal, Derek Pratt Prize), and The Clockmakers of London book publication. The organization promotes excellence in horology through education, networking, and charitable activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Clockmakers' Museum Public museum at the Science Museum in London displaying a world-class collection of approximately 1,400 horological objects, including clocks, watches, marine chronometers, sundials, tools, and John Harrison's H5 marine timekeeper. It is the oldest museum collection specifically devoted to clocks, watches, and sundials.
• Library and Archive Services By-appointment research access at Guildhall Library to horological manuscripts, pamphlets, printed books, and Company records dating from 1631. The archive includes papers relating to John Harrison and his marine timekeepers and is held alongside the Antiquarian Horological Society's library.
• Company Membership Annual membership for people involved in or passionate about watch and clockmaking, providing access to a global horological network, expertise, events, a membership directory, an events calendar, and member bookings. Membership fees are discounted on a sliding scale based on age.
• The Clockmakers of London An 88-page illustrated book charting the evolution of the Company and its world-famous museum collection, with high-resolution colour photography. The second edition is sold for £22.00 including postage to the United Kingdom.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Clockmakers' Charity contributed £1,000 to restore the 1926 Smith of Derby Clock at St Petrock's Church, Timberscombe
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Livery Climate Action GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Formed to assist City of London Livery Companies and Guilds to manage their impact on climate change and the environment by reducing carbon emissions and making responsible use of resources. The Clockmakers joined in 2023.
• Livery Food InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Aims to reduce food poverty. The Clockmakers joined in 2023.
• Livery Charity Chairs GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Enables Livery Charity Chairs to share ideas and experiences and learn from each other in an ongoing informal network. The Clockmakers joined shortly after the group was established in 2021.
• The City and Guilds of London InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1878Founded in 1878 and financed initially by the Corporation of London and Livery Companies. The Clockmakers' Company is one of 108 Livery Companies who have entered into Founder Membership, endorsing the Institute's work in education, training and development and assessment.
• National Benevolent Society of Watch and Clock MakerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1815Since 1815, this affiliate has supported members of the UK horological trade, their widows/widowers and dependents with quarterly grants and occasional gifts. Many thousands of trade members have been served by the Society over the years with hundreds being regularly helped.
• Science Museum, LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Clockmakers' Museum moved to the Science Museum in South Kensington in 2015, occupying a gallery on the second floor. Although housed within the Science Museum, it remains an independent museum accredited by Arts Council England.
• Arts Council EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Clockmakers' Museum is accredited in its own right by Arts Council England through the UK Museum Accreditation Scheme.
• Guildhall LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Clockmakers' library and most of its archive are housed at and accessed through the Guildhall Library, which also holds the Company's collection of horological books and pamphlets along with the Antiquarian Horological Society's library.
• University College London ObservatorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Clockmakers are affiliated to UCL's Observatory at Mill Hill in North London. With many Astronomers Royal as Company Masters and members throughout history, the Company presents an annual award to their highest achieving student.
• HMS ProtectorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Company is affiliated to the Royal Navy's Ice Patrol Ship. They present an annual award to the most promising crew member. HMS Protector is a hydrographic research vessel charged with patrol and survey of the Antarctic and South Atlantic.
• XIII Squadron RAFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe newest affiliation is to XIII Squadron RAF based at RAF Waddington, the first UK-based Reaper squadron providing real-time surveillance and reconnaissance. The Company awards an annual prize to the Squadron member who displayed greatest precision.
• HMS ArcherminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHMS Archer is the lead ship of the Archer patrol boat class and is the training vessel of the Edinburgh University Royal Naval Unit (URNU).
• Greenwich Sea CadetsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Clockmakers are proud to contribute towards funding the valuable work of the Greenwich Sea Cadets, who are represented at the annual Livery Dinner and contribute to the ceremony by providing a 'carpet guard'.
• Antiquarian Horological SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Company's formal affiliate offers lectures, events and study tours around the UK and overseas, with its flagship London Lecture Series a highlight in the horological learning calendar. Their library is housed alongside the Clockmakers' collection at Guildhall Library.
• British Horological InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Clockmakers' Company is part of a broad network of horological institutions. The BHI runs a range of courses for watch and clockmaking near Newark in Nottinghamshire and provides a Distance Learning Course. The Company awards prizes to best achieving students.
• British Watch and Clockmakers GuildminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the broad network of horological institutions with an extensive event programme.
• Hand Engravers Association of Great BritainminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the network of horological institutions offering courses and training.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Antiquarian Horological Society: UK learned society dedicated to horology, with lectures, study tours, publications and a co-located library at Guildhall Library. Closest thematic peer to the Clockmakers' Company in mission, membership base and archive focus.
• Worshipful Company of Pewterers: Historic City livery company (Royal Charter 1473/4) supporting a UK craft trade through grants, education, museum activity and events. Highly comparable governance, charitable and craft-promotion model.
• British Horological Institute: Primary UK trade body for watchmakers and clockmakers, running formal courses, distance learning and the FBHI qualification. A core partner of the Clockmakers' Company, structurally comparable as an education-led horological institution.
• Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers: Modern livery company (grant of letters patent 1961) championing a heritage UK craft trade through training, education awards and a charitable foundation. Closely mirrors the Clockmakers' education-led livery model.
• Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths: Another historic City of London livery company with a Royal Charter (1327), a major craft-trade focus (goldsmithing), an in-house charitable foundation, and an active events and awards programme. Closely comparable in governance, charitable structure and craft-trade promotion mandate.

Broad incumbents

• Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers: City livery company (Royal Charter 1963) supporting the scientific instrument trade — overlapping with horology in precision instrument heritage, education grants and a regulatory tradition. Broader in scope (electronics, optics, measurement) but structurally analogous.
• Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers: Major City livery company (Royal Charter 1708) supporting metals-related trades and materials science education. Comparable livery-company education and charitable grant focus, with overlapping metallurgy/materials interests relevant to clockmaking.

Regional players

• Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths: Livery company (Royal Charter 1571) promoting the blacksmithing trade through education grants and a charitable trust. Comparable craft-trade promotion structure; not horology-specific.

Emerging players

• British Watch and Clockmakers Guild: Trade guild focused specifically on UK watch and clockmaking with an extensive events programme. Directly comparable trade focus but smaller and more narrowly commercial than the livery company.

Others

• Science Museum: Free-admission national museum in South Kensington that has hosted the Clockmakers' Museum since 2015. Comparable as a heritage/education venue and a key channel partner, though not a competitive peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/worshipful-company-of-clockmakers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers