Tymperleys
| Tymperleys | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Interactive map of the Tymperleys area | |
General information | |
| Location | Colchester, Essex, England |
| Coordinates | 51°53′18.96″N 0°53′56.4″E / 51.8886000°N 0.899000°E |
| Year built | 15th century |
Tymperleys is a Tudor merchant house in Colchester, Essex, England. It has been a Grade II* listed building since 1950.[1]
History
[edit]Tymperleys was built in the 1490s for John Tymperleys, steward of the Duke of Norfolk.[2] The building faces out onto a private garden, accessed from the street via an archway.[1]
Tymperleys was the birthplace and family home of physicist William Gilbert,[3] now commemorated by a blue plaque.[1]
By the 1660s, Tymperleys had been subdivided into six separate cottages,[4] and around this time an exterior staircase was added.[5]
Present day
[edit]In the 1950s the building was purchased by Bernard Mason, who renovated it significantly, and opened a clock museum on the premises in 1987. With 216 clocks and 12 watches, the museum housed one of the largest collections in Britain.[5]
Following Mason's death, the building was left to Colchester City Council. The clock museum closed in 2011, with parts of the collection moved to nearby Hollytrees Museum.[5]
As of 2026, Tymperleys is home to a bookshop,[4] a tea room, and is available for hire as a wedding venue.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Tymperleys, Non Civil Parish - 1169553 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
- ^ "Tymperleys | Layer Marney Tower | Cafe | Colchester". Layer Marney Tower. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
- ^ Gildart, Hannah (2022-06-14). "Colchester's forgotten genius: William Gilbert, the father of electricity". Great British Life. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
- ^ a b "GfB, the Colchester Bookshop: Tymperleys". gfb.uk.net. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
- ^ a b c "NOSTALGIA: Images from Tymperleys Clock Museum keep its history alive". Gazette. 2017-01-02. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
- ^ Bradley, Jodie (2025-11-24). "Beloved Essex tearoom and wedding venue to reopen soon after closing suddenly". Essex Live. Retrieved 2026-05-01.