GREAT CLOCKMAKERS IN THE BLACKSMITHS’ COMPANY.

One of the most important “great” clockmakers of the 17th century and probably the least well-known, was William Clement. He is the un-sung hero of horology. If it had not been for William Clement, clocks might still have been treated as objects of amusement and not useful timekeepers.
William Clement invented the anchor escapement about 1665. He had been apprenticed to Thomas Chapman of the B.C. in 1657 and was freed by the B.C. in 1664. His elder brother Walter was an anchorsmith in Rotherhithe and lived in the family home. Their father, William, senior, had died in June 1646, almost 9 months before William’s baptism on 7th March 1647. So, we must assume that William was probably about 4 at that time. An earlier William who was baptised in 1638 must have died. William Clement, junior, must have assisted Walter from time to time, making his anchors which had prompted the idea of an anchor-shaped escapement. Most clocks prior to this were regulated with a verge escapement. A short bob pendulum was introduced to regulate the verge by Ahasaureus Fromanteel in the first longcase clocks made by him in 1658. The anchor escapement was regulated by the Royal Pendulum, 1 metre in length and beating once every second.
Most of William Clement’s early clocks were turret clocks with anchor escapement and long pendulums, but one of his earliest longcase clocks was illustrated in “Horological Masterworks” published by the Antiquarian Horological Society in 2003, example number 19, has a very early movement. The Fromanteel type movement (with split front plate) had been altered during its construction. The plates had been marked out for a verge escapement, but the holes had not been drilled. The plates had been drilled for a cross-beat escapement, which presumably had been fitted, but then it had been fitted with an anchor escapement and a long 1 ¼ seconds pendulum. This early clock by William Clement could be the clock he experimented on when he was developing the anchor escapement.
His turret clocks must have been more accurate than his competitors because in 1667 he received an order from the Society of Middle Temple (lawyers) for a clock to go over the entrance of their hall, which was to be better than the one on the hall of their fellow lawyers at Lincolns Inn. You can read more about his work and this clock here. 

​William Clement did make some fine longcase clocks one of which is illustrated in Fig.1. This is an 8-day longcase clock in a beautiful floral marquetry case made c.1695. The 11 inch square brass dial has cherub and scroll spandrels with engraving on its edge between the spandrels. The matted dial centre has a seconds ring above and square date aperture below with engraving around it. The dial is signed in Latin “Gulielmus Clement Londini Fecit”, on the bottom edge below the chapter ring. The movement of this clock has an anchor escapement, with a one second pendulum and outside locking plate striking.

Fig. 1: Hood of longcase clock by William Clement. c. 1695.

​A very similar 8-day marquetry longcase clock made by Thomas Johnson, London c.1700 (fig.2) also has an 11inch square brass dial with cherub and scroll spandrels, but this has a deeper minute numbering band than the Clement clock, on the outside edge of the chapter ring. The matted dial centre has a seconds ring above, turning around the winding squares and engraving around a square date aperture. The hands on this clock are more ornately pierced and this dial is signed on the bottom of the chapter ring “Tho. Johnson London”. The movement has an anchor escapement, with seconds pendulum and inside count-wheel striking.

Fig. 2: Longcase clock by Thomas Johnson, c. 1700

​Thomas Johnson may have worked for William Clement, after he had completed his apprenticeship to Richard Drake (another “great clockmaker” in the B.C.) and made similar clocks to those of William Clement; some with long 1 1/4 seconds pendulum (as did Joseph Knibb and Edward East). Johnson’s master, Richard Drake had received the order for the Kings College, Cambridge, turret clock which was made by William Clement, so that Johnson could have seen that clock being made as well as others.

​There now seems little doubt that William Clement did invent the anchor escapement which was used in clocks for 300 years, but some writers in the past suggested that Joseph Knibb may have invented it. Joseph Knibb and the Fromanteels were experimenting with modified forms of anchor escapement in the early 1670s (long pallets spanning fewer teeth of the escape-wheel) in order to reduce the amount of recoil experienced with the normal anchor escapement.

William Clement was held in high regard by his contemporaries who were always anxious to have his opinion on any horological matter. After he had introduced the anchor escapement c.1665 the Clockmakers’ Company (C.C) were determined to make him a member of their Company. William was a very modest man and for many years resisted their advances until eventually on 3 Dec. 1677 he gave in to their pressure and joined the Company as a free brother and “great” clockmaker. He still had to continue his commitment to the B.C. where he had sworn a lifetimes allegiance to that Company when he had been freed. He became an Assistant by 1680 and a reluctant Warden of the B.C. in 1697, while at the same time he was made an Assistant on 30 Sept.1678, a Warden on 15 Oct. 1690 and Master of the C.C. on 11 Oct 1694.
Unfortunately, William Clement’s career ended in poverty as he was not able to work after c.1701 due to poor health and he died in 1709. His great achievement was recognised by his fellow craftsmen but has sadly been forgotten in later years until the present day when few people even in horological circles are aware of his achievements and that he was an exceptional clockmaker and worthy of our highest praise.

​Thomas Johnson not only made some fine longcase clocks but he also trained a number of young men who became outstanding clock and watchmakers. William Kipling, son of Richard Kipling a deceased merchant of Romaldkirk, Durham, was apprenticed to Thomas Johnson in 1695 and freed by the B.C. in 1703. Kipling made many fine clocks and watches, some of which have survived for collectors today. ​Fig. 3 illustrates one of his outstanding red tortoise-shell table clocks with gilded mounts and side frets, made about 1720. The arched brass dial has crossed swords and crown corner spandrels, date ring in the arch flanked by scroll spandrels.

Fig. 3: William Kipling, table clock c. 1720

The chapter ring has a deep minute numbering band showing half quarters and half hour markers between the Roman hours. A name disc signed William Kipling London is situated below centre and blanked out false pendulum aperture above on the matted dial centre. 

Fig. 4. Engraved backplate of the movement, clock made by William Kipling

The musical movement has a verge escapement with short bob pendulum and quarter striking on 8 bells. 

​​Fig.4 illustrates the beautifully engraved back plate of the movement. William married his former master’s daughter, Elizabeth in 1715 and eventually took his younger brother, John as a partner about 1730.

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You can read more about William Clement here. And about other Great Clockmakers of the 17th Century here. 

If you are interested in finding out more about all the Clock and Watchmakers in the Blacksmiths' Company from 16th -18th Century, then you might be interested in my latest book. Early Clock and watchmakers of the Blacksmiths' Company.

If you would like to know more about Clockmakers from the North of England, then please consider buying a copy of Clockmakers of Northumberland and Durham. 

As usual, please leave your comments or questions regarding these or other clockmakers.