Why did a businessman like Lewis Evans build one of the finest collections of timekeepers from Europe and the Islamic World?

It started with a gift: a sundial, given to a 16-year-old Lewis by his eccentric father.

As he explored this ingenious instrument, Lewis discovered a world of histories: from the ancient science of time-telling to the bustling workshops of late 1600s Paris.

And he was inspired to learn more.

Over 50 years, Lewis built a collection to rival any museum, then or now.

From Persian astrolabes and German sundials to first edition books by Europe’s most influential mathematicians, he collected and researched them all.

Visit the History of Science Museum and discover how to hold time in your hand.

Free