National College of Horology and Instrument Technology

The College was founded in 1946 by the Department of Education as the National College of Horology following the recommendations of the Percy Committee report. This provided for the establishment of National Colleges for industries of high importance requiring small numbers of skilled technicians. The new colleges were to be located within existing technical colleges which already provided tuition in the specialist subject and were to be fully financed by Government. Northampton Polytechnic was a natural centre for the College being situated in the traditional area for watch and clock making and having had a Department of Horology since its inception. Instrument Technology was incorporated into the title of the College before it was finally established, and new buildings were provided at the Polytechnic financed by the Department of Education. The College was operational from October 1947 and ceased functioning as a separate entity in 1960 when the Polytechnic became a College of Advanced Technology (CAT) with higher entrance requirements. The final student intake was in 1957 and its courses were absorbed into the relevant CAT department.