Public clocks in England?

Not true at all. There is not, and never has been, any such law. It would be unenforceable.

Until the Industrial Revolution (early 18thC) it was not possible to make a large clock that was any more accurate than 1hour/week. Church clocks only showed local time, which meant that they were showing 12 o'clock when the sun was at its meridien over the village; therefore these would be different between villages as close as 10 miles apart.

The coming of the railways forced unification of time across the country, and then public clock accuracy improved.

A lot of public clocks are wrong even nowadays, especially the ones in parking meters - so you always get short-time. Trust the BBC and Greenwich "pips", but not on digital radio (inherent and unavoidable delay which vaies between radio sets).

Thank you for your several answers. I was told this by a watchmaker, which is why I gave it some credence. Insofar as numbers of public clocks is concerned, in my nearest town, Horsham, there are several public clocks outside shops. Two of them have been stopped for years and have not been set to 12 O'clock.

No or at least it is a law no longer enforced. There are very few public clocks left in England, although clocks at railway stations are usually very accurate

Not true. The reason why the hands on some stopped pubic clocks are put to 12.00 is to lessen the strain on the drive mechanism where repair can't be afforded.

First time I've ever heard of it. If it's true, a certain church near to me ought to be regularly prosecuted in respect of the clock on the church tower, and I'm sure they aren't!

Plenty in Scotland

Nonsense. It might have been hundreds of years ago but it no longer applies.

Yes, true

You heard wrong.

Do you belive everything people tell you?