I was walking on Penmaenmawr beach in North Wales when I noticed a large clock on a hilltop in the distance. I was curious about it, so I took my drone up for a closer look.

Located on a hilltop overlooking the town of Penmaenmawr, this clock was built in the early 1930s by the Penmaenmawr Granite Company to keep track of their workers' hours. But when the quarry closed down in the 1960s, the clock was left abandoned and forgotten.

Years later, the clock was restored. Millions of motorists passing by the area are left wondering about its purpose, while sailors use it as a navigational point along the coast.

For generations, the clock has played a significant role in the daily routines of local people. Kids playing on the beach would always know when it was time to head back home for tea, and one Conwy resident even claimed the old quarry clock "saved him many times" from his mother's scolding.

But what's the story behind this clock, you might ask? Well, granite quarrying in Penmaenmawr dates back over 5,000 years, making it one of the most important stone axe sites in Europe. Commercial operations started in 1830, and over time, the quarrying has significantly altered the landscape.

Interestingly, the clock was actually gifted to the Penmaenmawr and Welsh Granite Company by Euclid Co in Ohio, US, in the 1930s. The American company was so pleased with the order of huge excavators that could load quarried material onto large loading wagons that they gifted the clock as a way of saying thanks.

Contrary to popular belief, the clock wasn't used to signal the start and end of each shift or the only way of telling time. Until the 1960s, a steam-powered hooter sounded three times a day to warn of impending blasting work. Nowadays, the hooter is housed in the Penmaenmawr Museum, where visitors can press the button to hear what it sounded like.

So, if you're ever in North Wales, make sure to stop by and marvel at the Penmaenmawr quarry clock. Although it may not be the town's most important historical artifact, it's certainly the most well-known and beloved by many. Who knew that a clock could hold so much history and mystery?

Drone Video of Penmaenmawr Quarry Clock

Here is the Drone video of Penmaenmawr Quarry Clock that I created, there are some stunning views.