Jack the Blacksmith

I was in Abinger Hammer today on a GIS course, re-learning how to do my own distribution maps (so I don’t have to keep asking other people to do them for me as favours).

The Abinger clock (pictured) overhangs the main road and portrays the figure of Jack the Blacksmith, who strikes the hour with his hammer, apparently, although I didn’t hear it. The clock bears the motto "By me you know how fast to go". It was given in memory of the first Lord Farrer of Abinger Hall who died in 1899, and represents Abinger’s past role in the iron industry.

Abinger is also, apparently, where John Gordon Sinclair (if you remember Gregory’s Girl) lives, but I didn’t see him today.