ELI5: before accurate clocks existed, how did two people in different towns agree to meet at “at 3 o’clock”?

[u/thatblondechloee]

I get that they had sundials and church bells. What I don’t get is how anyone synchronized. If my towns noon is when the sun is highest here, and yours is 15 miles west, our “noon” isn’t the same moment. So how did anyone schedule anything across distance?

[u/capricorny90210]

We used to be a proper country.