Plaque to recognise the man behind One o'Clock Gun system

ONE of Scotland's most famous clock-makers, who designed the mechanisms behind the Capital's One o'Clock Gun and Time Ball, is being honoured at his former home.

Campaigners have won permission to erect a bronze plaque in memory of Frederick James Ritchie, one of the pioneers of electric clock-making in the 19th century. They were helped by an anonymous donation.

It will be placed by the door of the house on Brunton Place where he lived for more than 40 years. Now a five-star guest house, its owner, Sue Thompson, is keen to celebrate its history.

Ritchie worked with the astronomer royal, Professor Charles Piazzi Smyth, to design the unique mechanism for the Time Ball, while a similar mechanism automatically fired the One o'Clock Gun.

Ritchie was also a close friend of telephone pioneer Alexander Graham Bell and it is likely the pair discussed inventions at the house.

His name lives on in the world-renowned clock-making firm, James Ritchie & Son, which is now based in West Lothian. One of his descendents, David Watt, has been involved in the campaign to recognise him.

George Robinson, of the One o'Clock Gun and Time Ball Association, helped organise an exhibition focusing on the history of the family firm last year.

He said: "We thought it would be nice to help make Frederick Ritchie better known. Edinburgh has played a very important role in the history of clock-making, so it's nice to celebrate this."

The plaque is due to be unveiled on 7 June. This date marks the anniversary of the setting up of the One o'Clock Gun in 1861.

Ms Thompson, an architect and guest house owner, said she was thrilled to learn of the house's history. She has spent the last four years restoring the Georgian townhouse. She said: "I had no idea when I bought the house, but I was really excited when I found out. It's a great thing to tell the guests."

The association has also found the grave of Ritchie in Rosebank Cemetery, where it would once have been in view of the Time Ball. It is planning to clean and restore the headstone.

ALWAYS ON THE BALL

THE time ball was set up on the Nelson Monument in 1852. Frederick James Ritchie designed and supplied its electronic clock, working with the Astronomer Royal, Charles Piazzi Smyth.

The aim was to enable the sailors in Leith Docks and the Firth of Forth to check and adjust their chronometers. Each day, shortly before 1pm, the ball was raised and then lowered at exactly 1pm.

The ball itself weighs 762kg and consists of a timber sphere sheathed in zinc.

Nine years later the One o'Clock Gun at Edinburgh Castle was added, to give an audible signal, and the pair have worked in tandem almost without interruption ever since.

Until the 1930s, the master clock on Calton Hill was linked to a clock at Edinburgh Castle by a 4000 ft long electric cable. This enabled the gun at the castle to be fired automatically at exactly 1pm.