2026 Annual Meeting: Transatlantic Time
To be held at St. Mary-at-Hill Church, Lovat Lane, London EC3R 8EB, and online via Zoom, on Saturday 9 May 2026.
As we approached the 250th anniversary of American independence, we found ourselves thinking about stories of horology and the Atlantic Ocean. From clocks and bells traded between Britain and America, to the experience of time while journeying between continents, and from competing visions of horological industries at world fairs to the very morality of speed on ocean crossings, we concluded that the story of time has been greatly shaped by the transatlantic experience.
In the 2026 AHS Annual Meeting we will hear from a range of expert speakers exploring how time has been made, heard, felt, traded, displayed and transported across the Atlantic.
In the first session, Darlah Thomas will explore the horological technologies of the 18th and 19th centuries at Liverpool Docks – the place where so many transatlantic journeys began and ended. Next, Alan Hughes will examine the story of bells cast in Whitechapel for export to the new world – including one which rang in Philadelphia in July 1776 as the Declaration of Independence was read to the American public, now known as the Liberty Bell. Then, Kirsten Tambling will take us on a transatlantic voyage to discuss the technology of time changes on ocean crossings, and how they were experienced by passengers.
After lunch, we will hold the formal AHS Annual General Meeting, at the end of which the AHS President, Patricia Fara, will host our annual awards presentation.
The afternoon session will be opened by Edward Gillin. In the twentieth century, Concorde became infamous for its high development and operational cost but, as Edward will discuss, the saving of time in crossing the Atlantic at great financial expense had a long prior history. Next, Françoise Collanges will accompany us to the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia to examine its horological displays, shining a spotlight on how national identities in the horology industries were shaped and made public. Finally, Steve Dutfield will recount the remarkable story of a Potts of Leeds turret clock made for Cardiff Docks, which ended up in an Alabama basement for 35 years before travelling back across the Atlantic and arriving in Cardiff, where its life had begun.
We look forward to welcoming as many members as possible, and guests are also welcome. We reserve the right to alter the published programme as necessary. All timings are UK time. See you in May!
MORNING LECTURE SESSION
10.30 Church doors open for in-person attendees. Registration with tea, coffee and biscuits.
11.00 Chair’s introduction
11.05 Darlah Thomas, Setting sail for America: horology at Liverpool Docks
11.40 Alan Hughes, The sound of independence: English bells from Whitechapel to Liberty
12.15 Kirsten Tambling, Keeping time, killing time: changing the clocks on transatlantic liners, 1911–1945
12.45 Lunch
AGM AND AWARDS
14.00 Annual General Meeting, followed by presentation of awards by Patricia Fara
AFTERNOON LECTURE SESSION
14.45 Edward Gillin, From Cunard to Concorde: moral economies of time on the Atlantic
15.20 Françoise Collanges, Sitting on a volcano: horology at the 1876 Centennial Exposition, Philadelphia
15.55 Steve Dutfield, From Cardiff Docks to an Alabama basement and back: the transatlantic travels of a baby Big Ben
16.25 Closing words. The church will close at 16.30.
Attending in person at Lovat Lane
The full-day programme charge of £30 for in-person attendees at Lovat Lane covers the cost of buffet lunch and refreshments. To book for the in-person event, please complete this form. You can pay by debit or credit card, or using a PayPal account.
Seats for in-person attendance at the church are limited so early booking is strongly recommended. If you’re not able to book online, or have any questions, please contact the AHS Secretary, Helen Chapman, on 020 7062 7479 (+44 20 7062 7479 from outside the UK) or secretary@ahsoc.org.
There is no charge for members wishing to attend the AGM only, between 14.00 and 14.45, but please could you let Helen Chapman know in advance.
Attending online via Zoom
There is no charge for attending the full-day event online via Zoom. To book for the online event, please use this link. You will receive a Zoom Webinar link once you have registered.
The AHS Annual Meeting 2026 is supported by the kind sponsorship of Sotheby’s.
