Incredible technology meets beautiful craftsmanship: learn more about the clocks that changed the world.
John Harrison's marine timekeepers are arguably the most important ever made.
Please note that the Royal Observatory is temporarily closed for a landmark renovation project.
Image
What are the Harrison clocks?
The Harrison clocks were revolutionary in their ability to allow ships to determine their longitude at sea.
This development drastically reduced the risk of ships and their crews, along with their precious cargoes, being lost at sea. The Harrison clocks were able to keep time at sea, allowing sailors and mariners to determine their longitude.
It took John Harrison most of his lifetime to arrive at the design for H4, which was to be his most successful watch.
The clocks compensate for changes in temperature and, thanks to extensive anti-friction devices, run without any lubrication.
When Harrison unveiled H1 in 1735 it was the toast of London. Alongside the other Harrison clocks, it is one of the great milestones in clock-making history.
Find out more about John Harrison's ground-breaking timekeepers.
You might also enjoy
Longitude found - the story of Harrison's timekeepers
Who was John Harrison, and how did his clocks help to solve the problem of finding longitude at sea?
The Astronomer Royal
Who were the Astronomers Royal and what did they do?
History of the Royal Observatory
Find out more about the founding of the Royal Observatory, and how Greenwich came to be known as the 'Home of Time'