Gilbert Clock Factory, Historic clock factory in Winchester, United States
The Gilbert Clock Factory is a former industrial complex in Winchester, Connecticut, made up of several four-story brick buildings in the Second Empire style. The buildings run along Still River and can be seen from Wallens Street.
William Gilbert and Lucius Clarke started making clocks at this site in the 1840s, and the William L. Gilbert Clock Company was formally established in 1871. The factory grew into one of New England's major timepiece manufacturers and shaped Winchester's economy for decades.
The factory was the heart of Winchester's clock industry and shaped both the town's appearance and economic identity for generations. The massive brick structures along the river still reflect the importance this place held for the local community.
The buildings have been converted into residential units and are not open to visitors inside, but the facades are clearly visible from Wallens Street. Walking along Still River gives a good sense of the overall scale of the complex.
In 2018, the site was surveyed for radioactive traces left from the use of radium in clock hand painting, a practice common in early 20th-century factories. No contamination was found that posed any concern for the people living there today.
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