MANY generations will remember the clock museum once housed in Tymperleys in the heart of Colchester.

The building itself dates back to the 1490s and is now a successful tea room.

Tymperleys took its name from John Tymperley, councillor and steward of the Duke of Norfolk’s holdings in Colchester at that time.

It went on to be the family home of founder of electricity, William Gilberd.

In the 1950s, businessman Bernard Mason bought it, his collection of hundreds of Colchester-made clocks and watches from 1640 forming the basis of the Museum from 1987.

After his death the collection was left to the people of Colchester.