Watch museum ticks ever closer

The buildings could cost up to £50,000 to renovate

Plans to open a watchmaking museum in Coventry are ticking along nicely, organisers say.

The Coventry Watch Museum project recently bought three cottages on medieval Spon Street, which have been earmarked as the museum's home.

But the buildings are in a state of disrepair and could take up to two years to renovate.

One manager said they faced a £50,000 bill and "a lot of work" to be ready in time.

Swiss competition

The Watch Museum company secretary, Peter Naul, admitted the museum was a demanding project.

"Some of it we can do ourselves but, obviously, for the major structural work, we'll need to get qualified people in to do that," he said.

Mr Naul said the project could take a further two years.

He said: "If it is possible, in the middle of next year we'll start getting people down to take a look at it."

The city has a proud tradition of the watchmaking, becoming one of the major centres in England by the first half of the19th century.

However competition from Swiss and American manufacturers put the industry into decline by the early 1900s.