DEACONS the jewellers in Old Town is celebrating 170 years in business with a carriage clock decorated with some of Swindon’s best known landmarks.

The firm has been in the same premises on Wood Street since it was started by George Deacon in 1848, and continues to this day to be run by the sixth generation of jewellers, Richard and Sara Deacon.

The limited edition clocks, which are mechanical with an eight-day movement, require a key so they can be wound up. They feature three oil paintings by a local artist David Galbraith.

They include the bandstand in the town gardens, Liddington Hill and a 1960s view of the railway station.

David, a director of Historic Times Ltd, and a Deacons customer for the past 25 years, told the Adver:

“Liddington Hill is an emotional location for a lot of people. When people turn off the motorway they can see it, and really notice it, and it means a lot to people.

“They just see it and they love it, there are other anecdotal stories for many people because its a landmark,” he said.

Roy Brown, boss of the family-run firm Evolve Litho, told David his daughter Hannah had loved the landmark since she was a little girl. It meant so much to her that her husband-to-be took her there to propose.

Deacons grew as a clockmaker during the industrial revolution when it produced the main regulator clock and won the timing contracts for Great Western Railway on the line between Paddington and Swansea from the early 1850s until 1893.

The clock and leather case is handmade in the style of a Georgian carriage clock, which were originally used at home.

When their owners went away they took the clocks with them in their horse drawn carriages, resulting in them becoming known as carriage clocks.

The handmade Henley clocks are also a symbol of original and authentic clock making, harking back to a time when British-made goods were known for quality and durability.

“We’re interested in protecting high-end mechanical British clocks,” added David.

“This country has such a fantastic reputation for making things.

“Deacons has a huge customer base and has lots of loyal customers, it’s the oldest retail business in Swindon.

“They are a bastion of retailers on the high street and that’s why it’s so important that we look after our customers.

“It feels like we can make a difference to the clock-making business in this country.”

The 50 limited edition clocks have already sold well according to the artist.