Newgate

Newgate is a British clock company founded in 1991 by Jim and Chloe Read in Oswestry, Shropshire. The company takes its name from the old New Gate Toll near the couple's apartment and first home in the town. From its beginnings as a design-led clock business, Newgate developed a distinctive contemporary aesthetic that combined British graphic design influences with accessible, commercially oriented products for the home. The business gained early retail traction after exhibiting at London's Alexandra Palace. Following that appearance, it began supplying established retailers including Harrods, while also building relationships with distributors in Europe. International distribution became an important part of the company's model: during the 1990s, approximately three quarters of its clock production was exported. Although the company's identity and design operation remained rooted in Britain, manufacturing was moved from Oswestry to Asia in 2003, reflecting the internationalized production structure common to consumer home goods. Newgate later consolidated its headquarters and design studios in a refurbished factory in Oswestry, where the company continued to develop its product ranges. Its portfolio broadened beyond the core Newgate label. In 2005, the company introduced Jones Clocks, a sister brand positioned as a fashion-oriented clock line. Jones Clocks products were distributed through supermarkets, large home and DIY retailers, and direct-to-consumer channels, giving the wider business access to more mass-market retail environments. The company also entered watches. Development of a watch collection began in 2012, culminating in the presentation of a 50-watch range at the 2015 Spring Fair in Birmingham. Newgate watches were distributed internationally, including through distributors such as iWorld. In 2016, founders Jim and Chloe Read were included in the WatchPro Hot 100, reflecting recognition within the watch and timepiece sector. In 2019, Newgate launched London Mole, a sister brand focused on eyewear. This broadened the group's design and lifestyle remit beyond timekeeping while retaining an emphasis on branded, design-conscious consumer products. Newgate is therefore best understood as a privately held British design and consumer-goods business centered on clocks, with associated activity in watches and eyewear. Publicly available reference material does not establish a detailed current ownership structure, revenue profile, executive roster beyond the founders, or a precise list of present-day retail markets.

Newgate was established in 1991 by Jim and Chloe Read in Oswestry, Shropshire. The founders selected the Newgate name in reference to the old New Gate Toll located near their apartment and first home. The company entered the market as a British clock design and manufacturing business, developing products intended to combine recognizable contemporary styling with broad retail appeal. A significant early step came after Newgate exhibited at Alexandra Palace in London. The exposure helped the business secure retail customers such as Harrods and develop relationships with European distributors. Exporting became central to the company's activity: during the 1990s, around 75 percent of its clock production was exported internationally. This indicates that Newgate's commercial model was international from an early stage, even though its design identity and corporate base remained associated with Oswestry. In 2003, manufacturing moved from Oswestry to Asia. The change separated the company's British design and business base from its production operations and enabled the brand to participate in a wider international manufacturing and supply network. Newgate subsequently maintained its headquarters and design studios in Oswestry, relocating them in 2009 to a refurbished factory. The site served as a continuing British base for design and corporate activity. Newgate expanded its brand architecture in 2005 with the introduction of Jones Clocks. This sister label was positioned as a fashion clock brand and was sold through supermarkets, major home and DIY centers, and direct-to-consumer channels. The move gave the business a route into retail segments beyond specialist and design-led outlets while retaining clock products as its central category. The company began developing watches in 2012. Three years later, it introduced a 50-watch collection at the Spring Fair in Birmingham. The watch business was distributed internationally through partners including iWorld. In 2016, Jim and Chloe Read appeared in the WatchPro Hot 100, providing sector recognition for the founders and the company's watch-related expansion. In 2019, Newgate launched London Mole, a sister brand dedicated to eyewear. This was the company's clearest move beyond clocks and watches into an adjacent fashion and lifestyle category. Across these developments, Newgate evolved from a focused British clock maker into a broader design-led consumer brand group with activities spanning clocks, watches, and eyewear. Available reference material does not provide enough information to establish later ownership changes, detailed current management, financial performance, or a complete account of the brand's present distribution network.

• 2019

  London Mole launched

  [1]Newgate (company)en.wikipedia.org

  Newgate introduced London Mole, a sister brand focused on eyewear.

• 2015

  Watch collection launched

  [1]Newgate (company)en.wikipedia.org

  A 50-watch collection was presented at the Spring Fair in Birmingham.

• 2012

  Watch development began

  [1]Newgate (company)en.wikipedia.org

  Newgate started work on a dedicated range of watches.

• 2009

  Headquarters and design studios relocated

  [1]Newgate (company)en.wikipedia.org

  Newgate moved its headquarters and design studios into a refurbished factory in Oswestry.

• 2005

  Jones Clocks launched

  [1]Newgate (company)en.wikipedia.org

  The company launched Jones Clocks as a fashion-focused sister clock brand.

• 2003

  Manufacturing moved to Asia

  [1]Newgate (company)en.wikipedia.org

  Newgate transferred clock manufacturing from Oswestry to Asian production facilities while retaining its British design and business base.

• 1991

  Newgate founded in Oswestry

  [1]Newgate (company)en.wikipedia.org

  Jim and Chloe Read established the company in Oswestry, Shropshire, using a name inspired by the nearby historic New Gate Toll.

• 1990

  Early retail and European distribution growth

  [1]Newgate (company)en.wikipedia.org

  After exhibiting at Alexandra Palace, Newgate began supplying retailers including Harrods and developed European distribution relationships. During the decade, about 75 percent of production was exported.

A British, design-led lifestyle brand focused on contemporary clocks and related timepiece products, with an emphasis on distinctive visual styling, broad retail distribution, and international reach.

• Clocks · 1991

  Newgate clocks

  The core Newgate range consists of design-led clocks for domestic and lifestyle settings. It includes wall clocks as well as smaller alarm, mantel, desk, and related formats. The products support the brand's British contemporary-design identity and have historically been sold through both specialist retailers and international distribution channels.

• Fashion clocks · 2005

  Jones Clocks

  Jones Clocks is a Newgate sister brand introduced in 2005. It was positioned as a fashion-oriented clock label and distributed through supermarkets, major home and DIY centers, and direct-to-consumer channels, giving the wider business a more mass-market retail presence.

• Watches · 2015

  Newgate watches

  Newgate's watch business was developed from 2012 and publicly launched with a 50-watch collection at the 2015 Spring Fair in Birmingham. The watches extended the company's timepiece expertise into a wearable category and were sold internationally through distributors including iWorld.

• Eyewear · 2019

  London Mole

  London Mole is a sister brand launched by Newgate in 2019 to design and produce eyewear. It represents an expansion from clocks and watches into an adjacent fashion and lifestyle category.

• 2019

  Expansion into eyewear through London MoleProduct launch

  Background

  After extending from clocks into watches, Newgate pursued a further adjacent lifestyle category.

  Action taken

  The company launched London Mole as a sister brand producing eyewear.

  Aftermath

  The move broadened the business beyond timepieces into fashion-related accessories. No financial or market outcome is reported.

  Source

• 2012

  Expansion into watchesStrategy

  Background

  Newgate's established focus on timekeeping products provided a basis for entering the wearable timepiece market.

  Action taken

  The company began developing a watch range, later launching 50 models at the 2015 Spring Fair in Birmingham.

  Aftermath

  Watches became an additional international product category, supported by distributors such as iWorld.

  Source

• 2005

  Creation of Jones ClocksProduct launch

  Background

  Newgate sought to broaden its clock portfolio and reach retail channels beyond its principal design-led brand.

  Action taken

  It launched Jones Clocks as a fashion clock sister brand, with distribution through supermarkets, major home and DIY centers, and direct sales.

  Aftermath

  The launch expanded the group's brand architecture and retail reach. Specific sales or market-share effects are not reported.

  Source

• 2003

  Transfer of manufacturing to AsiaStrategy

  Background

  Newgate had developed an internationally oriented clock business, with most production exported during the 1990s.

  Action taken

  The company moved clock manufacturing from Oswestry to Asia while continuing to operate its headquarters and design activity in Britain.

  Aftermath

  The move established a separation between Newgate's British design and corporate base and its overseas manufacturing operations. No financial impact is provided in the reference material.

  Source

1. 1Newgate (company)en.wikipedia.org