The Houses of Parliament clock was not the only world-renowned timepiece to be stopped last week.

On the same day it was laid off for repairs, the equally famous astronomical clock at Hampton Court Palace was removed for essential restoration work.

The clock was designed and made for King Henry VIII by Nicolas Kratz and Nicholas Orsian, and installed over the Tudor Gatehouse around 1540.

Now it is a unique national treasure, both a marvel of medieval engineering and a fine work of art.

Originally it was of great practical use, showing the time, month, day, position of the sun in the zodiac and the phase and age of the moon.

It also gave the time at which the moon would cross the meridian, and therefore the time of high water at London Bridge - useful for King Henry, who always travelled to London from Hampton Court on the royal barge.

Though altered and repaired over the centuries, the clock remains an iconic feature of the palace, admired by thousands of visitors each year.

From now until the end of October, its dials will be on public display in Clock court, giving visitors a unique opportunity to view them in close-up.

It is hoped to have the clock reinstated by April 2008.