The design of the Newgate Street Clock--in particular the wandering hour dial--was inspired by history.

Before the designer's pencil  first touched her drawing board, Joanna Migdal consulted the Library and Museum of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, to discover what if any  important horological connections there were with the Newgate site. It was at the Clockmakers' famous Museum that she was able to establish that Joseph Windmills had first set up in business within metres of the Newgate Tower, in St. Martin's le Grand.

Windmills, who became Master of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers in 1702, was one of a group of watchmakers working in London at that time, who experimented with the "wandering hour dial" for pocket watches. So inspiration was found.

The Museum of the Clockmakers' Company, only some 600 metres from the Newgate Street Clock at London's ancient Guildhall, is the oldest Museum specifically of clocks and watches in the world. It tells the story of the clockmakers of London from c. 1600 until the present day, through sparkling examples of their work, set in the context of social and political history. The Museum is open to the public (free) from Monday to Saturday (except public holidays) from 9.30 in the morning until 4.30 in the afternoon. It contains a stunning display of clocks, watches and marine chronometers, including the world famous 5th Marine Timekeeper by John Harrison, one of the stars of  Dava Sobel's best selling book, "Longitude".