Winter’s Clock on the Underbanks in Stockport is an iconic public clock and a beloved local landmark. For decades, people have watched for the clock’s aminated figures to theatrically strike the hour from Petergate Bridge.
The distinctive display includes animated figures of Old Father Time flanked by a soldier and sailor, plus, of course, a beautiful double-faced white glass clock in a shiny black metal case sporting the Winter’s name. The mechanisms for the clock and automata sit inside the building. Jacob Winters installed the timepiece in 1903, just above the façade of his jewelery shop at 27-35 Little Underbank. Winters was a renowned clockmaker and jeweler. He used the clock, which had been made by Sainsbury Brothers of Walthamstow, to advertise his business.
In 2021, Keith Scobie-Youngs of the Cumbria Clock Co. restored the clock to working order, stating: “This clock should now be good for another 100 years.”
Over the years, the Winter’s shop has undergone several changes in ownership and is today an Italian restaurant. The character and usage of the once bustling Underbanks have had their highs and lows over the years but are now undergoing extensive redevelopment.
The distinctive Winter’s Clock was constant throughout, making it a cherished landmark on the town’s heritage trail, which is excellent news for the ongoing efforts to preserve Stockport’s historical architecture.
