Outside the Guildhall set into the wall is this assemblage of geographical data and meteorological instruments. Here we learn that Winchester is 127 feet above sea level, 5104N 119W and that real noon is 5 minutes and 16 seconds after than at Greenwich. There was a time when different parts of Britain had different time zones, but with the arrival of the railways this became too confusing for timetabling and led to a uniform 'railway time' across the country. By 1880 Greenwich Meantime was legally adopted throughout Britain. Yesterday we moved 1 hour forward to British Summer Time.
I love these old stations that one sees in Europe. Interesting what you tell about the time.
ReplyDeleteI remember coming across that, and realising how ignorant i was about how England used to manage time. Fine for the locals, but hard to arrange meetings with anyone from a different area!
ReplyDeleteInteresting instruments. I never quite understood the need to change our time twice a year, though.
ReplyDeleteI always get it wrong thought it changed next week.
ReplyDeleteAt work we are always on UTC which is GMT, even when the clocks go forward - all very confusing!
ReplyDeletewow, this is amazing. I love seeing all these old instruments.
ReplyDeleteInteresting old instruments, though now very much from another age.
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