Saving Time in 1916
Joanna Friel of the Chislehurst Society has given local history talks at the Croft Tea Room. She has leafed through the diaries of Ethel Bilbrough who lived in Elmstead Grange to find what was recorded at a significant TIME in history! It happened exactly one hundred and ten years ago.
May 1916: ‘The latest excitement has been the Daylight Saving Bill. Some years ago the originator of the Scheme, one Willett by name who lived here in Chislehurst tried hard to get the Government to adopt it, but with their usual dislike of venturing on anything new (even if it should be of utmost benefit to mankind) they would have none of it.
‘But now poor Willett has been in his grave some months, and as the war has brought home to our stupid Government the pressing need of saving coal and gas, the Bill was not only thought advisable, but brought in and passed. So on Sunday morning the 21st May at 2 o’clock, all clocks and watches had to be set on 3 o’clock! We altered all our timepieces however at 9.30pm on Saturday evening and went to bed and slept all night without difficulty though there were several in England who raised objections. We benefit in many ways by the new arrangement. It is broad daylight till close on ten and instead of having to get the gas lit and sit indoors reading, one can go for a good walk, do some gardening or indulge in other daylight occupations. Taking it all round everyone has reason to bless the name Willett!’
During World War One Ethel made prolific entries in her diary to record ‘these epoch stirring times.’ She hoped her diary would be lively to read ‘in years hence when peace once more reigns supreme and everything settles down to its usual torpid routine of dullness.’
Joanna Friel of the Chislehurst Society has given local history talks at the Croft Tea Room. She has leafed through the diaries of Ethel Bilbrough who lived in Elmstead Grange to find what was recorded at a significant TIME in history! It happened exactly one hundred and ten years ago.
May 1916: ‘The latest excitement has been the Daylight Saving Bill. Some years ago the originator of the Scheme, one Willett by name who lived here in Chislehurst tried hard to get the Government to adopt it, but with their usual dislike of venturing on anything new (even if it should be of utmost benefit to mankind) they would have none of it.
‘But now poor Willett has been in his grave some months, and as the war has brought home to our stupid Government the pressing need of saving coal and gas, the Bill was not only thought advisable, but brought in and passed. So on Sunday morning the 21st May at 2 o’clock, all clocks and watches had to be set on 3 o’clock! We altered all our timepieces however at 9.30pm on Saturday evening and went to bed and slept all night without difficulty though there were several in England who raised objections. We benefit in many ways by the new arrangement. It is broad daylight till close on ten and instead of having to get the gas lit and sit indoors reading, one can go for a good walk, do some gardening or indulge in other daylight occupations. Taking it all round everyone has reason to bless the name Willett!’
During World War One Ethel made prolific entries in her diary to record ‘these epoch stirring times.’ She hoped her diary would be lively to read ‘in years hence when peace once more reigns supreme and everything settles down to its usual torpid routine of dullness.’
The above extract from Ethel Bilbrough's diary first was published by the Bromley Borough Local History Society and has now more recently been included in the new (October 2025) Cray 150 book Blossom Time, Sunshine Day. Thank you Joanna Friel for your brilliant local history articles and illustrated talks! - at The Chislehurst Society [https//:chislehurst-society.org.uk].
Our Cray 150 local history book Sign Here! also mentions the crusade by William Willett of Chislehurst to bring about the changing of our clocks a.k.a. daylight saving time. Our book describes how famous ex-residents of Bromley Borough such as William Willett are commemorated by various blue plaques, monuments, memorials and signs. The photograph above shows the unveiling in 1927 of the sundial in Willett Wood. Next to Petts Wood railway station The Daylight Inn takes its name from William Willett too.
You can purchase copies of our books Blossom Time, Sunshine Day [Price £4.95] and Sign Here! [Price £2.95] at the Croft Tea Room or by e-mail [email protected]
Our Cray 150 local history book Sign Here! also mentions the crusade by William Willett of Chislehurst to bring about the changing of our clocks a.k.a. daylight saving time. Our book describes how famous ex-residents of Bromley Borough such as William Willett are commemorated by various blue plaques, monuments, memorials and signs. The photograph above shows the unveiling in 1927 of the sundial in Willett Wood. Next to Petts Wood railway station The Daylight Inn takes its name from William Willett too.
You can purchase copies of our books Blossom Time, Sunshine Day [Price £4.95] and Sign Here! [Price £2.95] at the Croft Tea Room or by e-mail [email protected]