Underbanks history and heritage

Winter's Jewellers and Clock

The Underbanks is best known for Winter's and its unique clock.

Jacob Winter, a clock repairer who had moved to the area from London, set up a jeweller's in 1890. The building was ideally situated to grab passing trade from the old road to London.

He was fascinated by technology, and in 1898, became one of the first people in Stockport to introduce electricity to his building. He engineered his shop window display to rise and fall, by hydraulic power, into a vault in the basement. And he built a highly sophisticated mechanical clock to advertise his business.

Made in 1903, Winter's Clock has 3 timber-based mechanical figures, or automatons as they're sometimes known: a sailor, a soldier and Father Time. The soldier and sailor ring the quarters, and Father Time rings the hours.

The figures themselves have been repaired a number of times: firstly in 1933, then in 1972, and most recently in 2021.

Winter’s Clock has a special place in the hearts of generations of Stopfordians, who have eagerly waited for it to chime.