Birks Clock Experience

Discover One of Hamilton’s Most Treasured Landmarks, the Birks Clock.

Birks Clock

Experience the Birks Clock in Augmented Reality

Take your visit even further with the Hamilton Public Library’s interactive Birks Clock Experience.

Using augmented reality (AR), you can explore a detailed 3D model of the Birks Clock from your smartphone or tablet. Discover how the clock works, learn about its fascinating history, and examine details that are difficult to see with the naked eye.

The experience includes:

  • Interactive augmented reality features
  • Historical photographs
  • Audio narration
  • Behind-the-scenes stories
  • Detailed views of the clock’s intricate design
  • Information about the famous Charging Horsemen

Whether you’re standing in front of the clock or exploring from home, this immersive experience offers a new appreciation for one of Hamilton’s greatest landmarks.

Start the Experience: https://www.hpl.ca/experience-commons/experiences/birks-clock

For nearly a century, the Birks Clock has been one of Hamilton’s most recognizable landmarks and a beloved meeting place for generations. Today, you can experience this historic masterpiece in its permanent home at the Hamilton Farmers’ Market.

Watch the famous Charging Horsemen come to life every 15 minutes as two mechanical knights ride toward one another in an endless jousting match. Listen as the clock plays one of nearly 200 melodies throughout the day, and discover why this remarkable timepiece continues to capture the imagination of visitors from near and far.

Whether you’re exploring Hamilton for the first time or revisiting a cherished childhood memory, the Birks Clock Experience is a must-see attraction.

Birks Clock Fast Facts

  • Installed in 1930
  • Commissioned by Henry Birks & Sons
  • Inspired by the famous Charging Horsemen Clock at Wells Cathedral in Somerset, England
  • Approximately 18 feet (5.5 metres) tall
  • Features two mechanical knights that joust every 15 minutes
  • Plays nearly 200 different melodies

Timeline:

  • 1930 – Installed on the Birks Building at King Street East and James Street North.
  • 1972 – Saved when the Birks Building was demolished and relocated outside Jackson Square.
  • 2010 – Removed for a complete restoration after years of exposure to the elements.
  • 2011 – Restored and installed inside the newly renovated Hamilton Farmers’ Market, where it remains today.

A Brief History of the Birks Clock

The story of the Birks Clock began in 1929 when Henry Birks & Sons purchased the former Canada Life Assurance Building at the corner of King Street East and James Street North in downtown Hamilton. After a devastating fire damaged the building, the company chose to restore it and commissioned a magnificent public clock unlike anything Hamilton had seen before.

Inspired by the famous Charging Horsemen Clock at Wells Cathedral in Somerset, England, the Birks Clock officially began operating on October 11, 1930. Standing approximately 18 feet tall, it quickly became one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.

Every quarter hour, two mechanical knights emerge and charge toward one another in a dramatic jousting display. Combined with its beautiful melodies and intricate craftsmanship, the clock soon became one of Hamilton’s favourite gathering places. For decades, countless people arranged to “meet under the Birks Clock” before shopping, dining, attending concerts, or simply enjoying a day downtown.

When the historic Birks Building was demolished in the early 1970s, the community rallied to preserve the clock. After spending several years outdoors near Jackson Square, weather took its toll on the historic mechanism. Thanks to careful restoration efforts, the Birks Clock was eventually relocated indoors, ensuring it would continue operating for future generations to enjoy.

Its Home at the Hamilton Farmers’ Market

Today, the Birks Clock proudly resides inside the Hamilton Farmers’ Market, where history and community come together every day.

Located in the heart of downtown Hamilton, the Hamilton Farmers’ Market has been serving the community since 1837 and is home to more than 50 independent vendors offering fresh local produce, meats, seafood, baked goods, specialty foods, artisan products, flowers, gifts, and more.

The Birks Clock has become one of the market’s signature attractions. Visitors often gather beneath it to admire its craftsmanship, photograph the famous Charging Horsemen, and experience a piece of Hamilton’s rich history while exploring everything the market has to offer.

Protected indoors year-round, the clock continues to inspire new generations while preserving one of Hamilton’s most treasured traditions.

Plan Your Visit

Experience history, shop local, and create new memories at the Hamilton Farmers’ Market.

While you’re here, browse fresh Ontario produce, meats, seafood, baked goods, international cuisine, artisan creations, flowers, gifts, and specialty foods from more than 50 independent vendors. Then gather beneath the Birks Clock to watch the famous Charging Horsemen come to life and experience one of Hamilton’s most enduring traditions.

Come for the shopping. Stay for the history. Experience one of Hamilton’s most iconic landmarks at the Hamilton Farmers’ Market. Plan your visit today.