In 1321, the first recorded tower clock in England was constructed at Norwich Cathedral. This early mechanical clock marked a significant technological development in timekeeping. The clock was a marvel of engineering, requiring complex gearwork and weights to strike the hours, and it symbolized the growing precision and order in medieval urban and monastic life.

The introduction of the mechanical clock influenced poetry by providing a new metaphor for the measurement of time, mortality, and divine order. The striking of hours became a poetic motif in devotional and secular verse, representing the passing of life and the need for spiritual vigilance. The Norwich clock, as a celebrated example of technological innovation, was praised in Latin and English verses, linking engineering to poetic creativity.