The St Martin public clock, located on Coney Street, has long served as a meeting point for Yorkies, but many locals may not be aware of its unique history. Dating back to at least 1668 in its original form, the clock was replaced in 1856, but since 1778, its most unique and beloved feature has been the famed Little Admiral, a carved wooden naval officer figure that’s been overseeing the passing of time for centuries.
Sitting atop the clock drum, and originally rotating to follow the movement of the sun, the Little Admiral has mysterious origins – it’s unknown where the figure was carved, and which, if any, real-life naval officer it’s meant to portray. However, after a period of absence, the Little Admiral has been painstakingly restored by York Archaeology experts, and is now on public display once again!
While the Little Admiral’s fall from grace was initially thought to be due to infiltration by the dreaded deathwatch beetle, upon closer inspection, Morgan Creed, Senior Conservator at York Archaeology, put its deterioration down to good-old fashioned Yorkshire weather: “Whilst it was encouraging to see that the ironwork was still in good condition, the wood itself had been somewhat battered by the elements, with deep cracks appearing. Protective paintwork had failed, allowing fungi to penetrate and start breaking down the wood from within.”
The restored Little Admiral is now publicly displayed inside St Martin-le-Grand church. Will you be paying the little fella a visit?
Visit www.yorkarchaeology.co.uk to find out more and stay up to date with the latest news from York Archaeology.
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