Pragnell Bray Origins Clock exhibited at Dumfries House
A remarkable clock which pays tribute to John Harrison’s revolutionary 1736 H1 marine chronometer, one of mankind’s most important inventions, is being publicly exhibited at Dumfries House, headquarters of The King’s Foundation.
The idea to reimagine the H1 clock was born in Geneva in 2022 when Charlie Pragnell and Bob Bray, who both specialise in cutting-edge horology, discovered they shared a fascination with John Harrison.
In 1714, the Longitude Act was created, and a £20,000 reward offered by the British Parliament to solve the problem of determining precise longitude, as navigation errors were causing shipwrecks resulting in a huge loss of life and valuable cargo. In 1736, Harrison boarded the HMS Centurion with his first sea clock, the ‘H1’, to test it on a voyage between Portsmouth and Lisbon. The design of the clock featured two interconnected swinging balances, to overcome the effect of the motion of a ship. The test in a live setting proved successful and the Board of Longitude acknowledged Harrison’s invention.
Driven by a desire to celebrate Harrison’s extraordinary achievements, Charlie Pragnell conceived and designed the Pragnell Bray Origins Clock, an ambitious tribute to the achievements of this British horologist, who profoundly influenced the course of modern history by enabling accurate navigation at sea and in doing so spawned many of the innovations found in the modern wristwatch.
Charlie’s vision was to place a faithful recreation of the H1 movement atop a rocking base, vividly demonstrating Harrison’s pioneering genius and the ingenuity that enabled his original marine chronometer to keep accurate time at sea.
He further enriched his design by introducing a ship’s hull – modelled on the Centurion – as the foundation upon which the rocking clock rests before incorporated an array of finely crafted nautical details, including working capstans, an anchor serving as a counterweight, and pineapple finials crowning the frame – Georgian symbols of maritime exchange and prosperity.
To realise his extraordinary design Charlie Pragnell’s turned to world-renowned horological practitioner Bob Bray of Sinclair Harding, a leading authority on Harrison, who worked in collaboration with the Pragnell workshops to bring to life this unique concept.
Comprising more than 3,450 handmade components, the ambitious vision to reimagine the clock as a full-scale reconstruction was gradually brought to life by master clockmaker Bob. Working in close collaboration with Charlie to refine and realise his design – and supported by Charlie’s cousin, Hugo Blott – Bob transformed the concept into an extraordinary feat of horological craftsmanship.
“Born of a British jeweller’s vision, refined in detail by a British jewellery workshop, and brought to life by a British clockmaker, the Pragnell Bray Origins Clock is a kinetic monument where British design, artistry, engineering, and history converge. Dumfries House is well-known for its incredible collection of clocks, and we are delighted to be loaning this incredible piece to The King’s Foundation to exhibit to the public.”
Charlie Pragnell, Managing Director of Pragnell
Visitors undertaking guided tours of Dumfries House, which was saved for the nation by His Majesty King Charles III in 2007 and is now headquarters of The King’s Foundation, will have the opportunity to view the clock while it’s exhibited in the country estate’s Entrance Hall from early February until Thursday 7 May 2026. While only two clocks remained when the house was saved in 2007, it is now home to a collection of 38 timepieces, with His Majesty once famously noting that he believes clocks ‘give a house a heartbeat’.
The King’s Foundation and Pragnell share a commitment to protecting traditional skills and championing craftsmanship, with Pragnell serving as the main sponsor of The King’s Foundation Awards in 2025 and is a proud benefactor of the Foundation.
“The addition of the remarkable Pragnell Bray Origins Clock will enrich the historic collection we already have here at Dumfries House. This opportunity allows us to offer our visitors from around the globe an opportunity to experience an ever-evolving collection reflecting craftsmanship from around the world as well as the beauty and history of Dumfries House. We are very grateful to Pragnell for entrusting us to exhibit this important piece, and look forward to sharing it with our guests.”
Gordon Neil, Executive Director of The King’s Foundation
The Pragnell Bray Origins Clock will be exhibited at Dumfries House where The Grand Orrey, an 18th Century mechanical model of the solar system, usually sits. The Orrery is currently on loan to The National Gallery in London. Guided tours of Dumfries House can be booked on our website.