I visited the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh earlier this week. I was there for an hour and a half, in keeping with my resolve to visit museums and galleries more frequently but for shorter periods, rather than being there for hours and not able to take it all in.

The Atrium with the Millennium Clock at the rear

I like the Millennium Clock, one of the dominating features of the atrium. Just before 11.00 I saw a North American guy taking photos of the clock and I suggested that he wait until 11:00 when the clock would grind into action. However he was with a tour and they were departing at 11.00. I think it is a pity to be in such an interesting museum, with little opportunity to return soon and to have to depart at a specific time.

The clock has several sections, the crypt, at the base, the nave, the belfry and the spire. At 11:00 the Egyptian monkey in the crypt started turning a wheel,which then set various cogs in the nave into motion making the 12 figures in the belfry rotate.

One of the creators of the clock, Tom Stead, described it as “full of the past, the past is dark but light and energy from youth will take us into the future”. I do think that the clock does have a feel of medieval times but don’t find the clock dark. I think it is amazingy intricate, there are so many figures of animals dotted throughout.