I think it was probably a common practice before the days or radio and
telephone to fire a gun or rocket by which people could set the time
on their clocks and watches.
I remember my grandparents, who never had radio or telephone, setting
their long-case clock like this even in the 1930s. This was in Jersey
where a gun was fired regularly at certain times on the hill
overlooking the town.
Brian Read
On 24 Apr 2008, at 14:52, Michael Holland wrote:
>
> A deposition from the time of the Swing Riots in Essex includes a
> reference to the 8 o'clock gun at the Nore being fired. Can anyone
> shed any light on the use of guns to indicate the time of day, please?
>
> Michael Holland
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