The clock predates its tax storySourced
Tavern clocks acquired a misleading explanation
Large British tavern clocks existed before the 1797 clock tax. The later name Act of Parliament clock helped associate them with a story that they were developed in response to that tax. The tax itself was repealed after nine months.
A plausible name can conceal the wrong sequence of events.
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Act of Parliament clock · Wikimedia contributors
Adapted, summarized and translated from the source. Adapted text is also available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Reviewed: 2026-10-05