"Owd Joss"

As most Hydonians know, the large bell in the Town hall clock is known as "Owd Joss". It is so named because it was bequested to Hyde by Joshua Bradley , a former poor child worker in the mills who later became mayor of Hyde.



The clock chimes the "Westminster Quarters" which is the most common name for a melody used by a set of clock bells to chime on each quarter hour. The number of chime sets matches the number of quarter hours that have passed. It is also known as the Westminster Chimes, or the Cambridge Chimes from its place of origin, the church of St Mary the Great, Cambridge.
Big Ben is probably the most famous use of the Westminster Quarters.