Timeless connections: Battersea's clocks return home
Two antique clocks that once marked the hours in the offices of Battersea Polytechnic have found their way back home - a touching gift from retired Senior Administrative Officer, Peter Southgate, whose remarkable career with the University spanned more than four decades.
Peter began his journey at Battersea Polytechnic in 1949, aged just 18, as a junior technician in the Chemistry Department. Over the years, his career evolved alongside the institution’s own transformation - from Battersea Polytechnic to the University of Surrey, and from bustling laboratories in South London to the rolling green campus in Guildford. Peter’s leadership and dedication helped shape the departments of Microbiology, Public Health, and Human Sciences, and he played a pivotal role in the design of the AX Building and the purchase of the Manor Park Farm site.
Now, at 94, Peter has entrusted the University with two extraordinary timepieces - reminders of an era when precision and craftsmanship defined both science and daily life.
The two historic Battersea Polytechnic clocks generously donated by Peter Southgate.
The clock that once hung in the Principal’s office at Battersea Polytechnic.
A glimpse into the inner workings of the Principal's office clock.
A close up of the President's clock
Echoes of Battersea
The two clocks once ticked steadily in the Principal’s Office and the Secretary’s Office at Battersea Polytechnic. They were cared for by Clifford Hilliard, the Polytechnic’s skilled instrument maker, who also ran his own repair shop in Diss, Norfolk. When Hilliard retired in the 1960s, he passed the clocks on to Peter - knowing they would be in good hands.
One of the clocks, dating from the 1890s, was originally purchased for £4 10s, a considerable sum at the time (approx. £500 today). Meticulously maintained by Peter ever since, it still keeps perfect time today. In a handwritten note enclosed with the donation, Peter wrote:
“This clock from the early 1900s graced the Principal’s Office of Battersea Polytechnic (later the University of Surrey) until the move to the new campus at Guildford… I have once had it reconditioned and have agreed that on my decease it should be returned to be placed in the University archives.”
Thankfully, Peter decided not to wait that long - and recently, upon moving house, arranged for their safe return. One now proudly sits in the Vice-Chancellor's Office, its gentle ticking a reminder of the University's enduring spirit and the generations who built it.
The clock from the Secretary's Office at Battersea Polytechnic.
Peter maintained both clocks following taking over the Senior Technician post in 1951
A close up of the Secretary's clock
A note from Peter upon donating both clocks back to the University
A legacy that lives on
Peter’s connection to Surrey is one of deep commitment, curiosity and care - qualities that still define the University today. His recollections of Battersea, recorded in his personal memoir Life at Battersea, vividly capture an era of hands-on experimentation, camaraderie, and pioneering science.
“Ever since I took over the Senior Technician post in 1951,” Peter wrote, “I was in charge of all financial and technical matters in a department that continued to grow and thrive... At one point I had about 50 technicians and ancillary staff reporting to me.”
His contribution to the University’s history - from designing laboratories to mentoring staff and students - continues to inspire. And now, with the return of the clocks, a piece of that history has come home.
Preserving the past, inspiring the future
As we celebrate this remarkable gift, we invite our Battersea alumni and friends to share their own memories, photographs and stories from their Polytechnic days. Together, we can continue to preserve and celebrate the spirit of innovation and community that began more than a century ago.
Do you have a Battersea story to share?
We’d love to hear from you. Email alumni@surrey.ac.uk or tag us on social media using #BatterseaToSurrey.