Simon Michlmayr, of Norwich clock and watch makers and repairers S Michlmayr & Company, returned to the scene of his first summer clock repair job as a 14 year-old – the Maids Head Hotel.
Forty years ago Mr Michlmayr, under the watchful eye of his late father Fritz, repaired the mid 19th century clock, which overlooks diners in the Maids Head Hotel's 2 AA Rosettes Wine Press Restaurant. Now it was the turn of Mr Michlmayr to oversee his assistant, Esme Collins, who repaired and restored the clock.
“It has been really interesting to come back to the Maids Head and help repair this historic timepiece again,” said Simon Michlmayr. “I remember being very excited forty years ago as I embarked on my first official job.I am pleased that I was able to give the work to Esme.”
The Maids Head clock, which dates from the 1850s, is weight driven and runs for a week. It was originally a striking clock. The mechanism is accessed from a small cupboard in the hotel's 18th century Assembly Room, now called the Minstrel Suite, which overlooks the restaurant courtyard.
Simon Michlmayr set up his own business 33 years ago, after his father died. He looks after City Hall's clock and has worked on many of the church clocks in the area, as well as repairing domestic clocks and wristwatches.
Esme Collins has completed the first two years in the British Horological Institute's Diploma in the Repair and Restoration of Clocks, with one more year of studying to come.
Christine Malcolm, General Manager, the Maids Head Hotel said. “It has been wonderful to welcome Simon Michlmayr back to the Maids Head to look after our historic courtyard clock, which has been a constant presence in the hotel for more than 150 years. With Simon and his colleague Esme's expert work, the clock will continue to oversee proceedings for many more years.”
For more information about S Michlmayr & Company t. 01603 403687, www.michlmayr.com
For more information about the Maids Head Hotel t. 01603 209955, www.maidsheadhotel.co.uk
All Things Norfolk have teamed up with the Maids Head Hotel to provide you with the chance to win a meal for two up to the value of £80 at their new contemporary look AA 2 rosette Wine Press Restaurant, which is located in the former courtyard of the 15th century inn that first took the name Maids Head.
The Lord Mayor of Norwich, Councillor Vaughan Thomas and the Sheriff of Norwich, Dr Marian Prinsley visited the hotel on Thursday, November 14 to officially reopen the restaurant following its £60,000 makeover.
Interior Designer, Nicola Lovell, working closely with General Manager, Christine Malcolm, has created a colourful and exciting restaurant with new tables, chairs, banquettes, pictures and decoration, which complement the ancient courtyard of the hotel.
The Wine Press refurbishment is the latest project at the Maids Head, which has seen £3.5 million invested by the hotel’s owners, the Chaplin family, over the last six years across all public areas and guest bedrooms.
The Maids Head Hotel in Tombland, Norwich has revealed a new contemporary look for its AA 2 rosette Wine Press Restaurant, which is located in the former courtyard of the 15th century inn that first took the name Maids Head.
The Lord Mayor of Norwich, Councillor Vaughan Thomas and the Sheriff of Norwich, Dr Marian Prinsley visited the hotel on Thursday, November 14 to officially reopen the restaurant following its £60,000 makeover.
Interior Designer, Nicola Lovell, working closely with General Manager, Christine Malcolm, has created a colourful and exciting restaurant with new tables, chairs, banquettes, pictures and decoration, which complement the ancient courtyard of the hotel.
The Wine Press refurbishment is the latest project at the Maids Head, which has seen £3.5 million invested by the hotel’s owners, the Chaplin family, over the last six years across all public areas and guest bedrooms.
The Maids Head Hotel in Tombland, Norwich, is the new permanent home for The Norwich Panorama, created by John Moray-Smith in the mid 1940s for Morgans Brewery.
The Norwich Society acquired the Panorama in 2016 to both save and restore the panel. The magnificent 2.5 metre by 1.5 metre panel is now on display next to the entrance to the Maids Head's Wine Press Restaurant.
The three-dimensional panel depicts the view of Norwich from St James Hill. It was commissioned by Morgans Brewery for the Cock Inn on King Street. Following the Inn’s closure in the mid 1970s, the panel was moved to Caistor Hall Hotel, where at some point after 2010 it was damaged and placed into storage. The Norwich Society bought the panel in 2016, and with the support of the Paul Bassham Charitable Trust, the John Jarrold Trust and the Norwich Heritage Fund, paid for its restoration.
The Maids Head Hotel, in Tombland Norwich, has acquired a rare 1950 Bentley Mark 6, left hand drive convertible, with a Park Ward body. Only four of this particular model were made and only two survive.
The Mark 6 was Bentley's first post war luxury car and was manufactured between 1947 and 1952.
This is the hotel's second classic car; earlier this year a 1963 Bentley S3 was purchased and has proved very popular, taking hotel guests on chauffeur driven explorations of the city. The bride and groom at weddings hosted by the hotel are also able to take a spin in the Bentley, with resident chauffeur Dave Currums, and have photographs taken at Pull's Ferry, at St James Hill, overlooking the Anglican Cathedral and the city centre and in the Market, buying an ice cream.
