Platt Fields Park will turn back the hands of time with the installation of a clock to the front of the boathouse for the first time in 50 years.

The unveiling will mark the official launch of the park’s centenary celebrations on Wednesday 17 February 2010, which will last throughout the year.   Everyone is welcome to come and watch the curtains part and the handsome black and gold timepiece revealed.   And, unlike the original (probably hand wound clock), this one will change the time automatically whenever the clocks change from winter to summer time etc.   

It is believed that a clock face used to adorn the boathouse helping visitors with their timekeeping before it was removed sometime in the mid 20th century. It will now be reintroduced as a nod to the park’s great history and to mark the park’s journey forwards towards the next 100 years and local people and visitors are all welcomed to witness this historic occasion.

One local resident remembers: “The clock was used to teach us children how to tell the time. We’d be fishing for tiddlers and check when it was time for tea and get home sharpish so as not to annoy our mam.”

The reintroduction of the clock to the park is a popular decision, welcomed by local residents, the Friends group and Manchester City Council alike.

Labour Councillor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council’s executive member for culture and leisure said: “Platt Fields Park is a Manchester gem and the history attached to it is something to be celebrated. Special thanks must go towards the Friends group who have worked so hard to help improve the park as well as Sainsburys Fallowfield who have given as substantial donation to help fund the centenary clock.  We’re so proud that the park has reached this fantastic milestone and look forward to the next 100 years, as it continues to welcome local people and visitors from miles around to enjoy this special park that has so much to offer everyone.”

The history surrounding the original Platt Fields Park clock is sketchy with various theories about when it last kept time in the park. The Friends of Platt Fields would welcome any memories, details of dates, early photographs or any other information about the clock. Contact email@plattfields.org, or phone 248 9331.


As part of the centenary celebrations, the Costume Gallery at Platt Hall will reopen its doors in March after a £1million makeover, and will include an exciting exhibition entitled 100 years of fashion, to link to the park’s anniversary. The year-long programme of events will include a special centenary weekend in May to celebrate the anniversary of the park’s opening on 7 May 1910.

The clock is being made by Smith of Derby, who have been clockmakers for over 600 years.

The clock will be unveiled at 12.30pm on Wednesday 17 February and everyone is welcome to attend.