Where Pinchbeck Is Based: Inside Our Historic Lincoln Workshop
Pinchbeck watches are designed and hand-assembled in the historic city of Lincoln, a place where centuries of craft, architecture and quiet artistry shape daily life. Our workshop sits beneath the watchful presence of Lincoln Cathedral, inside the remarkable medieval stonework of Exchequer Gate; a building that has stood for nearly seven centuries. It is here, surrounded by history and craftsmanship, that each Pinchbeck watch comes to life.
A Workshop Shaped by History
Our workshop and office are housed within a 675-year-old medieval archway, part of Lincoln’s historic cathedral quarter. The building itself once served as a gatehouse to Cathedral Close. Today, it houses part of the Cathedral library and our offices making the structure a remarkable setting for modern British watchmaking.
The workspace is undeniably historic. Stone walls hold the cool air you might expect from a medieval building. A winding spiral staircase leads visitors upward. The workshop and office sit side-by-side, tucked just to the left when facing the Cathedral façade.
It is not a polished showroom. It is not modern or clinical. It is something rarer, a working environment shaped by craft, patience, and time itself.
And perhaps most fittingly, there is even a discreet coffee shop hidden at street level, quietly serving locals beneath the same ancient stone that houses our workshop above.
Why We Work Behind Closed Doors
Because of the building’s age and structure, accessibility is limited. The spiral staircase is narrow. The environment reflects its medieval origins; cool, atmospheric and full of character, but not designed for regular public visits.
For this reason, Pinchbeck operates a closed-door workshop policy.
This is not because we are hidden. It is because we are working.
Our workshop is a functioning assembly space where watches are carefully constructed by hand. Tools, components, and works in progress require focus, organisation, and continuity. Unlike a retail showroom, it is a place of making rather than browsing.
It also reflects the practical realities of working within one of Lincoln’s oldest surviving structures. The building’s charm lies in its authenticity, not its accessibility.
We Are Here — And We Are Active
Pinchbeck is very much present within Lincoln’s historic cathedral quarter. Every watch is assembled here and the workshop remains the centre of our daily operations.
However, the office is not staffed continuously throughout the week. Watch assembly, supplier coordination, design development and artisan collaboration often take us away from the desk and into focused craft work.
Because of this, we kindly discourage unannounced visits. Simply arriving at the archway does not guarantee someone will be available to greet you and the building itself is not suitable for casual foot traffic.
How To Contact Harold Pinchbeck
We always welcome conversation, enquiries, and opportunities to connect with clients and collectors. The best way to reach us is:
Email
Telephone
If you would like to meet in person, we are very happy to arrange appointments where appropriate. Planned visits allow us to dedicate proper time, attention, and care, the same philosophy that guides our watchmaking.
A Location That Reflects Our Watches
Our setting is not accidental. The medieval stone, the cathedral light and the quiet rhythm of Lincoln’s historic centre mirror the values that shape our watches:
Patience over speed
Craft over mass production
Continuity over trend
Atmosphere over spectacle
The building is imperfect, historic and deeply characterful. Much like the watches we assemble within it, it carries the marks of time with quiet confidence.
Lincoln, Craft, and Everyday Time
Lincoln remains at the heart of Pinchbeck. The city’s history, creative community and sense of continuity influence everything we do, from design ideas to the final assembly of each timepiece.
While our workshop doors remain closed to casual visits, our work is always open to those who appreciate British craftsmanship, heritage design and watches made to be worn and lived with.
If you would like to learn more, arrange a meeting, or discuss a watch, we would be delighted to hear from you.