diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/commons/lang/time/StopWatch.java b/src/java/org/apache/commons/lang/time/StopWatch.java
index 0f0786a36..a91c67cef 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/commons/lang/time/StopWatch.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/commons/lang/time/StopWatch.java
@@ -14,35 +14,42 @@
  * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
  * limitations under the License.
  */
+
 package org.apache.commons.lang.time;
 
 /**
- * <p><code>StopWatch</code> provides a convenient API for timings.</p>
+ * <p>
+ * <code>StopWatch</code> provides a convenient API for timings.
+ * </p>
  * 
- * <p>To start the watch, call {@link #start()}. At this point you can:</p>
+ * <p>
+ * To start the watch, call {@link #start()}. At this point you can:
+ * </p>
  * <ul>
- *  <li>{@link #split()} the watch to get the time whilst the watch continues in the
- *   background. {@link #unsplit()} will remove the effect of the split. At this point,
- *   these three options are available again.</li>
- *  <li>{@link #suspend()} the watch to pause it. {@link #resume()} allows the watch
- *   to continue. Any time between the suspend and resume will not be counted in
- *   the total. At this point, these three options are available again.</li>
- *  <li>{@link #stop()} the watch to complete the timing session.</li>
+ * <li>{@link #split()} the watch to get the time whilst the watch continues in the background. {@link #unsplit()} will
+ * remove the effect of the split. At this point, these three options are available again.</li>
+ * <li>{@link #suspend()} the watch to pause it. {@link #resume()} allows the watch to continue. Any time between the
+ * suspend and resume will not be counted in the total. At this point, these three options are available again.</li>
+ * <li>{@link #stop()} the watch to complete the timing session.</li>
  * </ul>
- *
- * <p>It is intended that the output methods {@link #toString()} and {@link #getTime()}
- * should only be called after stop, split or suspend, however a suitable result will
- * be returned at other points.</p>
- *
- * <p>NOTE: As from v2.1, the methods protect against inappropriate calls.
- * Thus you cannot now call stop before start, resume before suspend or
- * unsplit before split.</p>
- *
- * <p>1. split(), suspend(), or stop() cannot be invoked twice<br />
+ * 
+ * <p>
+ * It is intended that the output methods {@link #toString()} and {@link #getTime()} should only be called after stop,
+ * split or suspend, however a suitable result will be returned at other points.
+ * </p>
+ * 
+ * <p>
+ * NOTE: As from v2.1, the methods protect against inappropriate calls. Thus you cannot now call stop before start,
+ * resume before suspend or unsplit before split.
+ * </p>
+ * 
+ * <p>
+ * 1. split(), suspend(), or stop() cannot be invoked twice<br />
  * 2. unsplit() may only be called if the watch has been split()<br />
  * 3. resume() may only be called if the watch has been suspend()<br />
- * 4. start() cannot be called twice without calling reset()</p>
- *
+ * 4. start() cannot be called twice without calling reset()
+ * </p>
+ * 
  * @author Stephen Colebourne
  * @since 2.0
  * @version $Id$
@@ -51,52 +58,64 @@ public class StopWatch {
 
     // running states
     private static final int STATE_UNSTARTED = 0;
-    private static final int STATE_RUNNING   = 1;
-    private static final int STATE_STOPPED   = 2;
+
+    private static final int STATE_RUNNING = 1;
+
+    private static final int STATE_STOPPED = 2;
+
     private static final int STATE_SUSPENDED = 3;
 
     // split state
     private static final int STATE_UNSPLIT = 10;
-    private static final int STATE_SPLIT   = 11;
+
+    private static final int STATE_SPLIT = 11;
 
     /**
-     *  The current running state of the StopWatch. 
+     * The current running state of the StopWatch.
      */
     private int runningState = STATE_UNSTARTED;
 
     /**
-     * Whether the stopwatch has a split time recorded. 
+     * Whether the stopwatch has a split time recorded.
      */
-    private int splitState   = STATE_UNSPLIT;
+    private int splitState = STATE_UNSPLIT;
 
     /**
      * The start time.
      */
     private long startTime = -1;
+
     /**
      * The stop time.
      */
     private long stopTime = -1;
 
     /**
-     * <p>Constructor.</p>
+     * <p>
+     * Constructor.
+     * </p>
      */
     public StopWatch() {
         super();
     }
 
     /**
-     * <p>Start the stopwatch.</p>
+     * <p>
+     * Start the stopwatch.
+     * </p>
      * 
-     * <p>This method starts a new timing session, clearing any previous values.</p>
-     *
-     * @throws IllegalStateException if the StopWatch is already running.
+     * <p>
+     * This method starts a new timing session, clearing any previous values.
+     * </p>
+     * 
+     * @throws IllegalStateException
+     *             if the StopWatch is already running.
      */
     public void start() {
-        if(this.runningState == STATE_STOPPED) {
+        if (this.runningState == STATE_STOPPED) {
             throw new IllegalStateException("Stopwatch must be reset before being restarted. ");
         }
-        if(this.runningState != STATE_UNSTARTED) {
+        if (this.runningState != STATE_UNSTARTED) {
             throw new IllegalStateException("Stopwatch already started. ");
         }
         stopTime = -1;
@@ -105,45 +124,58 @@ public class StopWatch {
     }
 
     /**
-     * <p>Stop the stopwatch.</p>
+     * <p>
+     * Stop the stopwatch.
+     * </p>
      * 
-     * <p>This method ends a new timing session, allowing the time to be retrieved.</p>
-     *
-     * @throws IllegalStateException if the StopWatch is not running.
+     * <p>
+     * This method ends a new timing session, allowing the time to be retrieved.
+     * </p>
+     * 
+     * @throws IllegalStateException
+     *             if the StopWatch is not running.
      */
     public void stop() {
-        if(this.runningState != STATE_RUNNING && this.runningState != STATE_SUSPENDED) {
+        if (this.runningState != STATE_RUNNING && this.runningState != STATE_SUSPENDED) {
             throw new IllegalStateException("Stopwatch is not running. ");
         }
-        if(this.runningState == STATE_RUNNING) {
+        if (this.runningState == STATE_RUNNING) {
             stopTime = System.currentTimeMillis();
         }
         this.runningState = STATE_STOPPED;
     }
 
     /**
-     * <p>Resets the stopwatch. Stops it if need be. </p>
+     * <p>
+     * Resets the stopwatch. Stops it if need be.
+     * </p>
      * 
-     * <p>This method clears the internal values to allow the object to be reused.</p>
+     * <p>
+     * This method clears the internal values to allow the object to be reused.
+     * </p>
      */
     public void reset() {
         this.runningState = STATE_UNSTARTED;
-        this.splitState   = STATE_UNSPLIT;
+        this.splitState = STATE_UNSPLIT;
         startTime = -1;
         stopTime = -1;
     }
 
     /**
-     * <p>Split the time.</p>
+     * <p>
+     * Split the time.
+     * </p>
      * 
-     * <p>This method sets the stop time of the watch to allow a time to be extracted.
-     * The start time is unaffected, enabling {@link #unsplit()} to continue the 
-     * timing from the original start point.</p>
-     *
-     * @throws IllegalStateException if the StopWatch is not running.
+     * <p>
+     * This method sets the stop time of the watch to allow a time to be extracted. The start time is unaffected,
+     * enabling {@link #unsplit()} to continue the timing from the original start point.
+     * </p>
+     * 
+     * @throws IllegalStateException
+     *             if the StopWatch is not running.
      */
     public void split() {
-        if(this.runningState != STATE_RUNNING) {
+        if (this.runningState != STATE_RUNNING) {
             throw new IllegalStateException("Stopwatch is not running. ");
         }
         stopTime = System.currentTimeMillis();
@@ -151,15 +183,20 @@ public class StopWatch {
     }
 
     /**
-     * <p>Remove a split.</p>
+     * <p>
+     * Remove a split.
+     * </p>
      * 
-     * <p>This method clears the stop time. The start time is unaffected, enabling 
-     * timing from the original start point to continue.</p>
-     *
-     * @throws IllegalStateException if the StopWatch has not been split.
+     * <p>
+     * This method clears the stop time. The start time is unaffected, enabling timing from the original start point to
+     * continue.
+     * </p>
+     * 
+     * @throws IllegalStateException
+     *             if the StopWatch has not been split.
      */
     public void unsplit() {
-        if(this.splitState != STATE_SPLIT) {
+        if (this.splitState != STATE_SPLIT) {
             throw new IllegalStateException("Stopwatch has not been split. ");
         }
         stopTime = -1;
@@ -167,15 +204,20 @@ public class StopWatch {
     }
 
     /**
-     * <p>Suspend the stopwatch for later resumption.</p>
+     * <p>
+     * Suspend the stopwatch for later resumption.
+     * </p>
      * 
-     * <p>This method suspends the watch until it is resumed. The watch will not include
-     * time between the suspend and resume calls in the total time.</p>
-     *
-     * @throws IllegalStateException if the StopWatch is not currently running.
+     * <p>
+     * This method suspends the watch until it is resumed. The watch will not include time between the suspend and
+     * resume calls in the total time.
+     * </p>
+     * 
+     * @throws IllegalStateException
+     *             if the StopWatch is not currently running.
      */
     public void suspend() {
-        if(this.runningState != STATE_RUNNING) {
+        if (this.runningState != STATE_RUNNING) {
             throw new IllegalStateException("Stopwatch must be running to suspend. ");
         }
         stopTime = System.currentTimeMillis();
@@ -183,15 +225,20 @@ public class StopWatch {
     }
 
     /**
-     * <p>Resume the stopwatch after a suspend.</p>
+     * <p>
+     * Resume the stopwatch after a suspend.
+     * </p>
      * 
-     * <p>This method resumes the watch after it was suspended. The watch will not include
-     * time between the suspend and resume calls in the total time.</p>
-     *
-     * @throws IllegalStateException if the StopWatch has not been suspended. 
+     * <p>
+     * This method resumes the watch after it was suspended. The watch will not include time between the suspend and
+     * resume calls in the total time.
+     * </p>
+     * 
+     * @throws IllegalStateException
+     *             if the StopWatch has not been suspended.
      */
     public void resume() {
-        if(this.runningState != STATE_SUSPENDED) {
+        if (this.runningState != STATE_SUSPENDED) {
             throw new IllegalStateException("Stopwatch must be suspended to resume. ");
         }
         startTime += (System.currentTimeMillis() - stopTime);
@@ -200,48 +247,73 @@ public class StopWatch {
     }
 
     /**
-     * <p>Get the time on the stopwatch.</p>
+     * <p>
+     * Get the time on the stopwatch.
+     * </p>
      * 
-     * <p>This is either the time between the start and the moment this method 
-     * is called, or the amount of time between start and stop.</p>
+     * <p>
+     * This is either the time between the start and the moment this method is called, or the amount of time between
+     * start and stop.
+     * </p>
      * 
      * @return the time in milliseconds
      */
     public long getTime() {
-        if(this.runningState == STATE_STOPPED || this.runningState == STATE_SUSPENDED) {
+        if (this.runningState == STATE_STOPPED || this.runningState == STATE_SUSPENDED) {
             return this.stopTime - this.startTime;
-        } else
-        if(this.runningState == STATE_UNSTARTED) {
+        } else if (this.runningState == STATE_UNSTARTED) {
             return 0;
-        } else
-        if(this.runningState == STATE_RUNNING) {
+        } else if (this.runningState == STATE_RUNNING) {
             return System.currentTimeMillis() - this.startTime;
         }
         throw new RuntimeException("Illegal running state has occured. ");
     }
 
     /**
-     * <p>Get the split time on the stopwatch.</p>
+     * <p>
+     * Get the split time on the stopwatch.
+     * </p>
      * 
-     * <p>This is the time between start and latest split. </p>
+     * <p>
+     * This is the time between start and latest split.
+     * </p>
      * 
      * @return the split time in milliseconds
-     *
-     * @throws IllegalStateException if the StopWatch has not yet been split.
+     * 
+     * @throws IllegalStateException
+     *             if the StopWatch has not yet been split.
      * @since 2.1
      */
     public long getSplitTime() {
-        if(this.splitState != STATE_SPLIT) {
+        if (this.splitState != STATE_SPLIT) {
             throw new IllegalStateException("Stopwatch must be split to get the split time. ");
         }
         return this.stopTime - this.startTime;
     }
 
     /**
-     * <p>Gets a summary of the time that the stopwatch recorded as a string.</p>
+     * Returns the time this stopwatch was started.
      * 
-     * <p>The format used is ISO8601-like,
-     * <i>hours</i>:<i>minutes</i>:<i>seconds</i>.<i>milliseconds</i>.</p>
+     * @return the time this stopwatch was started
+     * @throws IllegalStateException
+     *             if this StopWatch has not been started
+     * @since 2.4
+     */
+    public long getStartTime() {
+        if (this.runningState == STATE_UNSTARTED) {
+            throw new IllegalStateException("Stopwatch has not been started");
+        }
+        return this.startTime;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * <p>
+     * Gets a summary of the time that the stopwatch recorded as a string.
+     * </p>
+     * 
+     * <p>
+     * The format used is ISO8601-like, <i>hours</i>:<i>minutes</i>:<i>seconds</i>.<i>milliseconds</i>.
+     * </p>
      * 
      * @return the time as a String
      */
@@ -250,10 +322,13 @@ public class StopWatch {
     }
 
     /**
-     * <p>Gets a summary of the split time that the stopwatch recorded as a string.</p>
+     * <p>
+     * Gets a summary of the split time that the stopwatch recorded as a string.
+     * </p>
      * 
-     * <p>The format used is ISO8601-like,
-     * <i>hours</i>:<i>minutes</i>:<i>seconds</i>.<i>milliseconds</i>.</p>
+     * <p>
+     * The format used is ISO8601-like, <i>hours</i>:<i>minutes</i>:<i>seconds</i>.<i>milliseconds</i>.
+     * </p>
      * 
      * @return the split time as a String
      * @since 2.1
diff --git a/src/test/org/apache/commons/lang/time/StopWatchTest.java b/src/test/org/apache/commons/lang/time/StopWatchTest.java
index bb7b41244..cb693cc22 100644
--- a/src/test/org/apache/commons/lang/time/StopWatchTest.java
+++ b/src/test/org/apache/commons/lang/time/StopWatchTest.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
  */
 package org.apache.commons.lang.time;
 
+import junit.framework.Assert;
 import junit.framework.Test;
 import junit.framework.TestCase;
 import junit.framework.TestSuite;
@@ -203,7 +204,31 @@ public class StopWatchTest extends TestCase {
         } catch(IllegalStateException ise) {
             // expected
         }
+    }
 
+    public void testGetStartTime() {
+        long beforeStopWatch = System.currentTimeMillis();
+        StopWatch watch = new StopWatch();
+        try {
+            watch.getStartTime();
+            fail("Calling getStartTime on an unstarted StopWatch should throw an exception");
+        } catch (IllegalStateException expected) {
+            // expected
+        }
+        watch.start();
+        try {
+            watch.getStartTime();
+            Assert.assertTrue(watch.getStartTime() >= beforeStopWatch);
+        } catch (IllegalStateException ex) {
+            fail("Start time should be available: " + ex.getMessage());
+        }
+        watch.reset();
+        try {
+            watch.getStartTime();
+            fail("Calling getStartTime on a reset, but unstarted StopWatch should throw an exception");
+        } catch (IllegalStateException expected) {
+            // expected
+        }
     }
 
 }