One of my absolute favourite bits of Cambridge is coming to the Science Museum in April…sort of. The ‘chronophage’ is a magnificent golden clock, with no hands or numbers, and featuring a temporally ravenous beast:

Walking atop the 1.5 metre golden face is a large kinetic sculpture of a mythical creature. The creature, an integral part of the mechanics of the clock, appears to devour time … The hour is tolled by the sound of a chain clanking into a small wooden coffin concealed in the back of the clock to remind us that our time on earth is limited.

The original is permanently on show outside Corpus Christi College Library in Cambridge. Here’s my photo:

The new version, dubbed the Midsummer Chronophage, looks a little something like this:

Both were designed by inventor John Taylor. The new version will go on display at the Science Museum from 18 April alongside a pioneering marine chronometer by John Harrison.