This August, the Royal Observatory Greenwich is launching a new documentary film, telling the dramatic story of John Harrison's search for an answer to the Longitude problem. The unique film includes interviews with the world's leading authority on Harrison, the Observatory's Curator of Horology, Jonathan Betts, and previously unseen, close-up, moving footage of Harrison's timekeepers, including H4 - the timekeeper which solved the problem. The VHS film is now on sale at the Royal Observatory Greenwich and National Maritime Museum shops.

The Yorkshire clockmaker, Harrison, has finally found fame in recent years, thanks largely to the BAFTA-winning Channel 4 drama Longitude, inspired by the international best-selling book of the same name. His four great timekeepers, including H4, are on display in the permanent Harrison gallery at the Royal Observatory.

In 1714, Parliament established a panel of professors, politicians and Navy officers to form the Board of Longitude, and offered a massive £20,000 (today equivalent to about £2 million) to anyone who could solve the problem of finding longitude at sea. It took nearly sixty years for the prize to be claimed and in the end it went not to a famous astronomer, scientist or mathematician, but to the Yorkshire carpenter turned clockmaker, Harrison, who created an accurate sea-going timekeeper. For the full John Harrison story please contact the Press Office.

Cost: £14.50
Duration: 45 minutes
Official launch: Thursday 16 August 2001, 7pm at the Royal Observatory Greenwich
Review copies: Kirsten Canning 020 8312 6545

Jonathan Betts, Curator of Horology said:

"We are very pleased to present John Harrison and his Timekeepers. The close up film of these extraordinary machines in action is unique and exciting and for fans of the Longitude film or book who want to discover more about the design and working of the real timekeepers, this film is ideal."

NOTES TO EDITORS
Harrison's timekeepers, H1, H2, H3 and H4 are all featured in full working order as the centrepieces of the Harrison gallery at the Royal Observatory Greenwich.

The Royal Observatory has also teamed up with the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, to display, until October 14 only, the earliest Harrison clock from 1713 and H5, the last timekeeper he ever made (the timekeeper which went to George III) as well as the precision pendulum clock of 1728 (used as a basis for H1). Also on display, courtesy of the Hull Trinity House, is the Jefferys watch, which provided the clue Harrison needed to make the important move to H4 from H3.

Issued 6 August 2001 by the National Maritime Museum Press Office.

Please Note: This video is no longer available (Jan 2006).