In 1676, Astronomer Royal John Flamsteed was looking to find a way to determine longitude at sea, so ships could know their position and hazards.

Feuds with Sir Isaac Newton, dirty rivers and a missing key are just some of the obstacles he contended with and overcame.

His labours ultimately paved the way to Greenwich Mean Time.

Emily Akkermans, Curator of Time at Royal Museums Greenwich, and Keith Moore from the Royal Society of London, speak to Allis Moss.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

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(Picture: Greenwich Royal Observatory, London. Credit: Peter Thompson/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

The creation of Greenwich Mean Time

Witness History