The clocks go back on Sunday 28 October, giving us an extra hour in bed. Fortunately, we have any number of ways of knowing the time these days and many of them will automatically reset to GMT. 

It's strange to think that it wasn’t until the 18th century that clocks began to appear in private houses and the middle of the 20th century before most people owned a watch, hence the introduction of British Telecom's Speaking Clock in 1936.

Historically, the principal function of clock towers in towns and on country estates – no matter how elaborate the design – was to let townspeople and estate workers know what time it was. Early public clocks didn't even have faces, just bells which could be heard from long distances. 

Nowadays, it’s all about aesthetic appeal and having your own clock tower, or living in close proximity to one, is highly desirable, even though you wouldn't necessarily set your watch or device by it.

These properties all enjoy the old-school charm of a public clock.

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