The History of the Clocks Changing for British Summer Time

Twice a year, it happens. The clocks go forward in spring and back in autumn. For many, it means losing an hour of sleep or gaining one back later in the year. But where did this tradition come from, and why do we still do it?

Here’s a look at the history of British Summer Time and how it became part of everyday life in the UK.

Where the Idea Began

The concept of changing the clocks actually dates back to the late 19th century.

A New Zealand scientist, George Hudson, first proposed the idea in 1895. He wanted more daylight hours in the evening so he could spend more time collecting insects after work.

Later, in the UK, William Willett became the biggest advocate for the idea. In 1907, he published a pamphlet called The Waste of Daylight, arguing that people were wasting valuable daylight hours in the morning instead of the evening.

Despite his campaigning, the idea wasn’t adopted straight away.

Introduced During the First World War

Clocks changing officially came into force during World War I.

In 1916, the UK introduced British Summer Time (BST) to save energy. By shifting an hour of daylight to the evening, less artificial lighting was needed, which helped conserve fuel during wartime.

Germany had already introduced a similar system, prompting the UK to follow suit.

How It Works

British Summer Time begins when the clocks go forward one hour in spring, usually in late March.

They then go back one hour in autumn, typically in late October, returning to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

The idea is simple:

Lighter evenings in spring and summer
Darker mornings, but more usable daylight after work or school
Changes Over the Years

The system hasn’t always been fixed.

During World War II, the UK introduced Double Summer Time, putting clocks two hours ahead of GMT in summer and one hour ahead in winter. This was again to maximise daylight and save energy.

In the late 1960s, there was an experiment to keep the UK on BST all year round. Between 1968 and 1971, the clocks didn’t go back in winter.

While lighter evenings were popular, darker winter mornings caused safety concerns, especially for children going to school, and the UK eventually returned to the current system.

Why Do We Still Change the Clocks?

The original reason was to save energy, but today it’s more about lifestyle and making better use of daylight.

Longer evenings encourage:

Outdoor activities
Shopping and leisure
Travel and tourism

However, the system is still debated. Some people would prefer to keep the same time all year round, while others like the balance BST provides.

A Tradition That Stuck

More than a century after it was introduced, changing the clocks is still part of life in the UK.

Whether you love the lighter evenings or dread losing an hour of sleep, it’s one of those small seasonal rituals that marks the changing of the year.

And every spring and autumn, it reminds us just how much difference an hour can make.