Great Clockmakers of the 17th Century
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March. 2021

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After the Great Fire of London in 1666 the Clockmakers’ Company (C.C.) were enrolling new members, 28 of whom were described as “great clockmakers” between 1669-1690; others were just enrolled as free brothers.
In 1636 the C.C. had signed an agreement with the B.C. saying that they would not enrol any “great clockmakers of iron clocks”, now called turret clocks. Joseph Knibb had worked in Oxford up to 1670, when he moved to London in 1670 he joined the C.C.​... Read More. 

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Great Clockmakers of the 17th Century

After the Great Fire of London in 1666 the Clockmakers’ Company (C.C.) were enrolling new members, 28 of whom were described as “great clockmakers” between 1669-1690; others were just enrolled as free brothers.
In 1636 the C.C. had signed an agreement with the B.C. saying that they would not enrol any “great clockmakers of iron clocks”, now called turret clocks. Joseph Knibb had worked in Oxford up to 1670, when he moved to London in 1670 he joined the C.C. 
. ​... Read More. 

Dating antique Brass Dial Longcase clocks. - Part 2

In Part 1.  I attempted to show some of the problems facing prospective buyers of early 18th century clocks. Following on from that theme I would like to look at some clocks made after about 1730.
After Humphrey Maysmore’s death in 1706 his widow Mary turned their son Humphrey over to Richard Vick in the C.C. who had been trained by Daniel Quare. Humphrey junior would have completed his apprenticeship by about 1714 and by 1717 he was working in Wrexham. An interesting example of Humphrey Maysmore junior’s clocks (Fig. 1)  ​... Read More. 

Was Thomas Tompion the leading clockmaker at the end of the 17th Century?

Thomas Tompion has been described as the father of English clock and watchmaking by a number of writers. In 1697 the Blacksmiths’ Company (BC) made the following declaration :- “ the greatest Artists therein [clockmaking] of this day were Originally Smiths” they go on to say “ye said Company of Blacksmiths have hitherto enjoyed all the Clockmakers and Watchmakers arising from ye stock and having Members of them”.
We then have to ask was Thomas Tompion one of the greatest artists in clockmaking, if so, was he a member of the BC? ​.....Read More. ​

Dating Early Antique Longcase Clocks
​- Part 1

 I am going to give some tips on how to date early antique clocks, split into 3 blog posts. We will look at different date ranges to make it a little easier. It can be quite difficult dating early 18th century longcase clocks because the brass dials were square before 1720 but about this date an arch top was added to London clocks​.......Read More. 

Sophia Metcalfe - Memoirs of a lady watchmaker

Sophia Metcalfe, born 1881, was the daughter of Ralph Metcalfe watchmaker and jeweller at 168 Scotswood Road, Newcastle and apprenticed to her father 1895-1899. She married John William Clark of Crawcrook whose family were also watchmakers. 
"Now I will commence at the beginning of my apprenticeship at 14 years of age. I was never idle one moment and we were always busy. At that particular time.....Read More

Richard Craile - a watchmaker in the Blacksmiths' Company

Richard Craile was one of the early 17th century watchmakers. He was born in 1600, the son of William Craile a curate of Grantham and apprenticed to Robert Grinkin about 1615. Richard witnessed his master's will in 1626 when Robert died so Richard was probably a journeyman at that time. He took his freedom of the BC on 18th January 1626/7 ​ ... Read More. ​

Astronomical clocks for King Charles II - Samuel Watson

Watson made two astronomical clocks for King Charles II, one in 1682 for £215 and the second was a special commission which took Watson from 1683-1690 to complete.
​Read more

Antique Clockmakers & their freedom from the London Guilds

All trade in the City of London, from very early times, was controlled by the trade guilds or companies. A craftsman had to be a freeman of one of these guilds in order to trade within.....Read more

Plague epidemics & their effects on Clockmakers

When I wrote  about the effects of the plague at different times in our history, I never dreamt that we would be experiencing a pandemic similar to what the clock and watchmakers experienced in 16th and 17th centuries. Read More

William Moraley, watchmaker of Newcastle

Many years ago, while researching London clockmakers I came across a report in the London Gazette for 31st May 1729 which stated that William Moraley, watchmaker of Newcastle had been declared .... Read More

Was your ancestor a clock or watchmaker?

Here is a fascinating story,  tracing the family tree of  a lady who was the descendant of a clockmaker. If you think your ancestor may have been in the clock and watchmaking trade and you would like ... Read More

John Walker, clockmaker extraordinaire

Apprenticed to Charles Thompson on 6th June 1734 but not freed in the BC until 1749. The competition for a clockmaker in London must have been very strong at that time because John..... Read More

A right Royal Clock

​I was on a visit to Newton Hall, Northd., in the late 1970s when I noticed a turret clock in the stable block. I asked if I could see the movement of the clock and Captain Widdrington, the owner ....Read More

​The William Clement clock at Middle Temple

​The Society of Middle Temple is famous for its turret clock which was made by William Clement, who agreed to make a clock to go above the porch of their hall by Michalmas (29th September) 1667 for.....Read More
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Chronometer makers in the Blacksmiths' Company

My interest in chronometers and chronometer makers was aroused by a two part article written by Charles Aked on the subject of “Longitude and the Marine Chronometer” in ......Read More