This incredible astronomical clock constructed in gilt and enamel adorns the building known as Bracken House in the City of London, just a stone’s throw from St Paul’s Cathedral.
The clock was designed by Frank Dobson and Philip Bentham in 1959. The gilded signs of the zodiac stand on a deep azure background, surrounded by the months of the year and roman numerals that depict the time of day. The clock measures about 1 metre in diameter.
In the centre is a stunning sunburst, further embellished by a famous face. Do you recognise him?
More later on the face -I’ll let you think for a while.
Originally constructed as the headquarters and printing works for the Financial Times, the building takes its name from Brendan Bracken (1901-58, later Viscount Bracken), who merged the Financial Times with the Financial News in 1945, creating England’s largest business newspaper.
It was built in 1955-58 on a blitzed site, to the designs of Sir Albert Richardson. Design work started in 1952, drawings were displayed at the 1954 Royal Academy and the building was finally opened in 1959.
What you see in these photos is part of the original structure, faced in red Hollington sandstone, from Staffordshire, and pale red bricks with bronze windows, beneath a weathered copper roof. This colour was a deliberate reference to the Financial Times’ pink pages.
As with with other leading newspapers, the FT left its city premises in the 1980s for production elsewhere in London and a competition was held for the design of a new building on the site. The winning design by Michael Hopkins was eventually modified to retain the original outer north, east and south ranges.
But enough of this architectural chat and back to the face. Any guesses? If I tell you that Bracken worked as Minister of Information in the British wartime government, that might help.
The face is, supposedly, Sir Winston Churchill, former boss and long-standing friend of Bracken. I think I see the likeness.
1 Friday Street, London EC4M 9JA
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