A Victorian time machine touched down in Billericay at the weekend - thanks to a unique partnership between a national supermarket chain and a local museum.

The 159-year-old clock, which once graced the clock tower of Charles House - Billericay's old union workhouse and later part of St Andrew's Hospital - has been given pride of place on the shopfloor in Waitrose on the High Street.

The vintage timepiece, owned by Billericay's Cater Museum, had been on display inside the St Andrew's Hospital until the burns unit transferred to Chelmsford last year.

But museum curator Ted Wright was determined to ensure that the people of Billericay would still be able to enjoy this important part of their heritage.

He immediately set to work finding a new home, eventually approaching Waitrose.

The store was glad to help and, after several months of restoration work, the workhouse clock finally went back on public display on Sunday.

Waitrose spokeswoman Carol Hubbard commented: "We have never been involved in anything like this before at any of our stores. It really was a new venture for us, but we were glad to be able to help.

"It looks wonderful in the shop, and I hope the people of Billericay will come along and have a look."

Sunday's unveiling marks the end of an era for Ted Wright, for whom the clock became something of a labour of love.

For 30 years after the clock tower was demolished in 1948, it lay abandoned and decaying in a shed, until Mr Wright rescued it.

He said: "This old clock looked down over the town for more than 140 years, it's a vital part of the heritage of Billericay. I am really very pleased with the way Waitrose have presented it, it looks very well where it stands and meets all of my expectations.

"At last, all of the hard work we have put in over the years has come to fruition. I hope lots of people will go and see it."

TIME TEAM: Debbie Sullivan, from the architects department of Waitrose's parent company John Lewis, and Ted Wright from the Cater Museum admire the clock they worked so hard to re-house.

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