2025 Annual Meeting
The Pit and the Pendulum
To be held at St. Mary-at-Hill Church, Lovat Lane, London EC3R 8EE, and online via Zoom, on Saturday 10 May 2025.
Horology was transformed in the year 1656, when Christiaan Huygens completed his design for the first practical pendulum clock. It was a shot in the arm for European clockmaking. For the first time, a clock could be considered a serious instrument of science. Since then, right up to the present day, pendulum timekeeping has been the focus of extensive research, development, and innovation. Pendulums have also been absorbed into the instrumentation of disciplines besides horology, notably in the Earth sciences.
In the 2025 AHS Annual Meeting, we will hear a range of stories examining pendulums in science, technology, and everyday life.
In the first session, Edward Gillin will explore the central role of naval expeditions in nineteenth-century British science, focusing on the cultivation of pendulums as experimental devices on ocean-going voyages. Next, Alexandra Rose will examine the use of pendulum technology in nineteenth-century seismology, from registering earthquakes to probing the interior of the Earth. Then, Tabea Rude will open some black boxes of everyday technology, discussing the use of pendulums hidden in everything from railway signalling equipment to Edwardian time-switches.
After lunch, we will hold the formal AHS Annual General Meeting, at the end of which AHS President Patricia Fara will host our annual awards presentation.
The afternoon session will be opened by Daniel Belteki and Wayne Ridgeway, who, with Carolyn Kennett and Edward Gillin, recently re-enacted George Airy’s famous Dolcoath mine experiments to measure the density of the Earth. Daniel and Wayne will describe their experiences with an experimental pendulum in the nearby Rosevale tin mine. Next, John Haine will outline the work of a group of modern-day pendulum scientists, catalysed by the NAWCC’s Horological Science Newsletter, who work to reveal further secrets of this remarkable horological device. Finally, Andrew Strangeway will explain scientific analysis of the world’s most famous pendulum clock, Big Ben.
We look forward to seeing you in May!
Saturday 10 May 2025
MORNING LECTURE SESSION
10.00 Church doors open for in-person attendees. Registration with tea, coffee and biscuits.
10.30 Chair’s introduction
10.35 Edward Gillin, Oscillations on ice: pendulums and the scientific culture of the Royal Navy, 1818–1860
11.10 Alexandra Rose, Pendulums in nineteenth-century seismology: from registering earthquakes to probing Earth’s interior
11.45 Tabea Rude, Hidden pendulums
12.15 Lunch
AGM SESSION
14.00 Annual General Meeting, followed by presentation of awards by Patricia Fara
AFTERNOON LECTURE SESSION
15.00 Daniel Belteki and Wayne Ridgeway, The pit and the pendulum: a sensory account
15.35 John Haine, 21st-century pendulum science – alive and well!
16.10 Andrew Strangeway, Keeping Big Ben on time: analysing the world’s most famous pendulum clock
16.40 Closing words. The church will close at 17.00.
We look forward to welcoming as many members as possible, and guests are also welcome.
Attending in person at St. Mary-at-Hill Church, Lovat Lane, London
The full-day programme charge of £25 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 will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. 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 15.00, 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 the link below. You will receive a Zoom Webinar link once you have registered.
The AHS reserves the right to alter the published programme as necessary. All timings are UK time.
The AHS Annual Meeting 2025 is supported by the kind sponsorship of Sotheby’s.
