A REPLICA of a clock that helped establish navigational tools in the 17th century has gone on display at Towneley Hall.

The clock was unveiled on Wednesday to celebrate the achievement of Richard Towneley, a former owner of the hall who helped design the device more than 300 years ago.

The original clock was one of two that were made for the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, which helped to establish longitude and solve the problems of navigation at sea.

It was reconstructed from descriptions in letters from the Astronomer Royal John Flamsteed, at Greenwich, to Richard Towneley at Towneley Hall.

Professor Alan Smith, who built the replica clock, visited Towneley Hall on Wednesday to give a talk about the clock's history.

He said: "I decided to built a replica clock in 2000 after coming to a display at the hall called Time trials at Towneley'.

"The clock took six months of hard work to build, but It was only this year that I talked to the curator of the hall, Susan Bourne, and decided that the clock should be put on permanent display in the hall.

"Richard Towneley was asked in 1676 by Astronomer Royal John Flamsteed at Greenwich Observatory to design the escapement for the clock, a part that helps with the clock's accurate time keeping.

"Richard Towneley's escapement was a key part of establishing longitude.

"Only two of these clocks were originally made for the observatory, the original clocks have long since been dismantled.

"The clocks were used to help the Astronomer Royal with his work in establishing longitude as he needed clocks to help him with the timing of his observations.

"The long case clock has a 13-foot pendulum above the face and should run for a year without winding.

"About 50 people came to see the clock on Wednesday and hear the talk. It was a really enjoyable day."

Following the reconstruction of the clock for Towneley, the British Museum has restored its own version of the clock.

The clock has been put on permanent display in the Great Hall at Towneley Hall.