A short story about a time traveller from Norwich

This is a short story about a time traveler who finds a way to travel back in time to medieval Norwich.

The Clockmaker of Norwich

In a small antique shop tucked away in the cobbled streets of Norwich, Elliot Parker stumbled upon a peculiar device. It was hidden beneath layers of dust and discarded trinkets—a brass contraption with
gears that gleamed faintly under the dim light. The shopkeeper, an elderly man with twinkling eyes, noticed Elliot’s interest.

“Ah, the Clockmaker’s Folly,” the shopkeeper said. “A strange piece, isn’t it? No one’s ever been able to figure out what it does.”

Elliot, a historian by passion, couldn’t resist the lure of mystery. He bought the device and took it home, where he spent hours tinkering with its levers and dials. One fateful evening, as the moonlight streamed through his attic window, Elliot aligned the machine’s gears in a way that made it hum to life.

Before he could react, a blinding flash enveloped him. When the light faded, Elliot found himself standing in a bustling marketplace. The timber-framed buildings, earthy scents of livestock, and villagers clad in medieval garb told him he was no longer in modern Norwich.

It was the year 1100.

A Stranger in Time

Elliot’s modern clothes attracted curious glances, but his quick thinking saved him. Claiming to be a traveling scholar, he was welcomed by the townsfolk, who were eager to hear tales of distant lands.
Elliot marveled at the simplicity of life in 12th century Norwich. Children played with hand-carved toys, bakers sold fresh loaves from stone ovens, and the River Wensum glistened under the sun.

But life in the 12th century wasn’t all quaint charm. He quickly realized the hardships—disease, feudal taxes, and the looming presence of the recently constructed Castle, where the local baron ruled with an iron fist.

The Clockmaker’s Legacy

Elliot befriended a young apprentice named Edith, who worked at the local smithy. She was fascinated by the stories of his “strange homeland.” Over time, Elliot showed her how to improve tools using techniques from his time, subtly advancing their craftsmanship.

As days turned into weeks, Elliot grew restless. He missed his own era and knew he couldn’t risk altering the past too much. But the time machine remained a mystery; he had no idea how to activate it again.

One evening, Edith revealed a secret. Deep within the crypt of a local church, there were rumors of a hidden chamber filled with artifacts left by a mysterious “clockmaker” decades ago.

The Return

Together, they sneaked into the crypt, guided by torchlight. In the chamber, Elliot found engravings that mirrored the designs on his time machine. It became clear—the device he’d found in the antique shop was part of a legacy left by another traveler, a warning to others to tread carefully through history.

As Elliot deciphered the engravings, the machine in his hands began to glow. Edith watched in awe as he explained he was returning home. “You’ve given me hope for the future”, she said.

“History owes much to people like you,” Elliot replied.

With a final twist of the dial, the hum of the machine grew deafening, and Elliot was engulfed in light.

Epilogue

Elliot awoke in his attic, the time machine silent and lifeless. He glanced out the window at modern Norwich, but his thoughts lingered on the past. He couldn’t help but wonder – had Edith’s name found its
way into history books, her advancements shaping the world he knew? The Clockmaker’s Folly now sat as a silent sentinel on his desk, a reminder that even the smallest moments in time could ripple across
centuries.

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