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You can’t see it, hear it, or feel it, but for the whole of the country time starts right here on the Cumbrian Coast at Anthorn.

The time signal is so vital to our daily lives it has to be up and running 99.95% of the time. You’d be amazed how much we all rely on these two atomic clocks beneath the transmitter.

Everyday life

Every morning at 3 am, these ticket machines synchronise with the time signal – as do the handheld devices and cameras used by the parking attendants. That way there’s no argument about whether you were one minute over your time limit!

Different devices rely on different time sources – but ultimately they all have to agree.
Sat Nav compares time signals from atomic clocks on board each satellite to pinpoint your position. However, an error of 1/100th of a sec would put you 3000km off course!

Suzanne Charlton at Bewcastle

An early clock

The Bewcastle Cross is the oldest remaining solar time device in Britain (though there is another at Escombe Church in County Durham that vies for the title).

With a sundial, Midday is when the sun is directly overhead but the rotation of the earth means when it’s noon in Carlisle, it is more than six minutes later than in Middlesbrough.

To find out more, such as what the connection between Big Ben and Penrith is, or who’s in charge of British time-keeping, click the link below, to watch Suzanne Charlton as she explores time in Cumbria and beyond with Inside Out ...