BROAD SHEET communicates the work of the Museum of the Ormskirk York History of Science, Local time: 11 minutes 36 Local time: 4 minutes 20 Oxford. seconds behind Greenwich seconds behind Greenwich Longest summer day: Longest summer day: 16 16 hours 53 minutes hours 58 minutes It is posted on the Shortest winter day: Shortest winter day: 7 hours 7 minutes 7 hours 2 minutes Museum’s website, sold in the shop, and distributed ‘Inward from the Sea is ‘This City not only Olmskirk ... a fair Town flourished under the to members of the near the Douglass, and Romans, but was also has a good Market on in great Reputation in mailing list, see Thursdays. ... The Brook succeeding Ages; and in www.mhs.ox.ac.uk. Douglass runs here with the several Turns and a still gentle Stream, near Revolutions this Kingdom which, ‘tis said, Arthur underwent under the defeated the Saxons in Saxons, Danes, and a memorable Battel. Normans, has, though a Wiggan stands near Fellow-Sufferer with the the Rise of it ... much rest, through the helping inhabited by Brasiers, Hand and Countenance of Pewterers, Dyers, Weavers the Nobility and Gentry, of Rugs, &c. for Bedding, still preserved its ancient and is famous for the Lustre. It is at present choicest Coal in England.’ fair, large, and beautiful, adorned with many splendid Buildings, both publick and private, very populous, much resorted to, and well inhabited £1.00 by the Gentry, who in the Winter Season have their City Houses here, as others more southerly have 25th November 2006 - at London, as also their 15th April 2007 Assemblies.’ Time and Place English Country Clocks 1600-1840 his is the Museum’s second exhibition regions and how were they modified locally? organised in collaboration with the It quickly becomes clear that the clock is TAntiquarian Horological Society: a powerful tool for studying how both a single clock comes from the Museum’s technology and style not only spread but collection, while all the rest belong to also are adapted to local circumstances. members of the Society. They have been Table clock generously placed on loan for everyone to This Broad Sheet presents the main themes by Henry Hindley, enjoy. of the exhibition and a selection of the clocks, Longcase clock while a full catalogue has been published by by John Taylor, York, c.1750 On this occasion the Society has turned away the Antiquarian Horological Society. The Ormskirk, c.1725 from the metropolis to seek out clocks with quotations illustrating the circumstances and An ebony table clock with a two- provincial origins, with the aim of covering customs of the places represented are quoted train 8-day hour striking and as many English regions as possible. The from Herman Moll, A new description of A month-going hour-striking quarter repeating movement. result brings several questions into focus. England and Wales, with the adjacent islands longcase clock veneered in well- The case has an inverted bell top How did a trade in local clocks made for (London, 1724). The road maps come from matched pollard oak having an with carrying handle and full local customers become established and John Owen, Britannia Depicta, or Ogilby unusual three-centred arched arch dial. The dial shows seconds evolve? Did regional styles emerge? How did Improv’d (London, 1751). dial. This shape is reflected in technical and stylistic trends spread between in the arch and the silvered ring the cornice, fretted frieze and is divided into half seconds. The also the top of the long door. tall round-topped plate-frame The dial, with cherub’s head movement is full of the maker’s spandrels, has a boldly engraved individualistic features such as the chapter ring. The moon’s age is double baluster pillars, reversed shown in the arch by a slender fusees, dead-beat escapement pointer against an engraved THE and pendulum. The trains are ring in the centre of which the ANTIQUARIAN reversed with going train on the moon’s phase is indicated by a HOROLOGICAL left and striking and repeat work SOCIETY rotating sphere. on the right. Broad Sheet is produced by the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3AZ Tel +44(0)1865 277280 Fax +44(0)1865 277288 Web: www.mhs.ox.ac.uk Email: [email protected] Text and images supplied by The Antiquarian Horological Society. All rights reserved.

Table clock by John Glazebrook and Thomas Hutchinson, Mansfield Mansfield, c.1730 Stamford Local time: 1 minute 56 seconds behind Greenwich A walnut-veneered table clock Local time: 4 minutes 44 seconds with 8-day hour-striking and Longest summer day: 16 hours 42 minutes behind Greenwich quarter-repeating movement. Shortest winter day: 7 hours 18 minutes Longest summer day: The inverted-bell shape of the top 16 hours 48 minutes follows London style; however the ‘In Edward III’s Time, here was an University, which yet lasted not Shortest winter day: shape of the dial, with its small long, the Students returning again to Oxford, from whence, upon some 7 hours 12 minutes arch and day of the month sector, Quarrel, they removed hither: However, there are still the Remains confirms its Midlands origin. of Two Colleges, one call’d Black-Hall, the other Brazen-Nose; which The double signature is unusual ‘Mansfield, in Sherwood-Forest, is a last is older than that at Oxford; the Town nevertheless flourish’d still, as is its placing on the dial. The good large Town, and well built and dial has cherub’s head spandrels, till the Civil War between the Houses of York and Lancaster came on, inhabited, having a good malting which were in fashion in London which much impair’d it; yet it is still the fairest built and best compacted Trade; and its Market, which is on some 40 years earlier. Unusually, Town in the County, and finely seated for Pleasure and Convenience. Thursdays, is considerable for Corn, the quarter-repeating work ... They have an annual Custom of baiting a mad Bull.’ Cattle, Malt, Swine, and Provisions. incorporates a fusee mounted on Our Kings were wont formerly to the backplate. retire hither for the Diversion of Longcase clock Hunting.’ by John Watts, Stamford, c.1690

This 8-day three-train musical longcase clock has an exceptionally fine provincial floral marquetry case with walnut and ebony background. The case is surmounted with a fine carved partially-gilt cresting. The provincial origin of the case is indicated by the slightly unusual mouldings and bulbous twisted columns. The musical movement is very substantial and Bristol Cirencester is contained in a large posted frame. It plays two tunes and the bells are struck by 15 hammers. Local time: 10 minutes 20 seconds Local time: 7 minutes 56 seconds behind Greenwich behind Greenwich Longest summer day: Longest summer day: 16 hours 31 minutes 16 hours 28 minutes Shortest winter day: Shortest winter day: 7 hours 29 minutes 7 hours 32 minutes ‘Cirencester on the Churn, over which it has a Bridge, and, in ‘It is a sweet and delightful City, the Woulds, very commodious for Mills. It is a Place of great Table clock by Richard adorned with many fair and Antiquity, being the Caercori or Caerceri of the Britons, the Greenhill, Corinium of Ptolemy, and the Durocornovium of Antoninus. Canterbury delightful Edifices, wonderfully Canterbury, c.1685 improved of late Years: Its Streets Its ruinous Walls yet to be seen, contain’d two Miles in Circuit; Local time: 4 minutes 20 seconds ahead of Greenwich are so neatly order’d, that no Filth many Roman Coins, chequer’d Work Pavements, and engraven An ebonised table clock with shallow or Ordure is to be seen to annoy the Marble Stones have been dug up here. In this Town the first Longest summer day: 16 hours 26 minutes dome and carrying handle, a floral Inhabitants: But its greatest Glory forcible Opposition was made in 1641, upon the Lord Chandos Shortest winter day: 7 hours 34 minutes engraved dial centre and unusual of all, and wherein she exceeds all executing the King’s Commission of Array; and here the first spandrels. The general appearance ‘It has at present a great Trade, to which the Foreigners of the clock seems to follow London other Cities and Places in England, Blood was drawn in the Revolution of 1688, the Lord Lovelace in it have contributed very much; They are partly practice; however the 8-day hour striking is, she has provided Work-Houses to being attack’d with his Party for the Prince Walloons, and partly French, the first being driven movement is differently arranged with employ her Poor at her own Charge; of Orange, and made a Prisoner. ... As out of Artois and other Provinces of the Netherlands high winding squares, striking work on so that as they have no Beggers of to the present State of Cirencester, it’s a in the Time of Queen Elizabeth, settled here and the right and a plain back plate. their own in their Streets, they will Borough, sends Members to Parliament, brought with them the Art of weaving Silk into allow none from other Parts to come and has two weekly Markets, on Mondays England, and this is now so much improved, that their amongst them. They use no Carts, chiefly for Corn, and on Fridays for Wool, Silks equal, if not exceed any foreign Silk whatsoever, but Sledges in Bristol ...’ Yarn, and Provisions.’ and they send great Quantities of it to London. The Settlement of the French was since the Persecution of Wall clock Lewis XIV. They are numerous and very industrious, Lantern clock, by John Coates, live frugally, and maintain their own Poor: they join unsigned, Cirencester, c.1760 with the Wallooons in the Publick Service, and make Bristol, c.1650 a very great Congregation, having a large Place of A basic 30-hour wall Worship allowed them by the Cathedral.’ A typical Bristol clock of 12-hour alarm clock in a simple duration with hour striking on a large oak case with shaped bell and controlled by countwheel. top and bracket and Characteristic frets, finials, feet and curved sides. The frame. The time is shown by a single exposed square brass hand against the Roman numerals and dial has a single hand quarter-hour divisions. The engraving and large alarm disc. of the dial and details of the movement The iron bar-frame suggest an attribution to Thomas movement has an Browne of Bristol. Time is controlled by anchor escapement and a single spoked balance wheel and verge a long pendulum. escapement. Longcase clock by William Tipling, Wall clock by Nicholas Snowe, Leeds, c.1700 Salisbury, 1638 An 8-day hour-striking longcase movement A small, portable, weight-driven alarm with square dial closely following London clock. The single hand indicates the fashions having cherub and foliage spandrels hours and the alarm time is read at the and matted centre. There is cup and ring 17th Century short end of the hand and set by rotating decoration surrounding a Tudor rose at the the alarm disc. The time is controlled 1700-1750 centre and the hour hand has a delicately by a simple bar balance and verge fretted boss which complements the fine escapement. The alarm mechanism and design of the hour and minute hands. An bell are missing. unusual feature is the sunk seconds ring.

Lantern clock by John Smorthwait, he beginning of English domestic clock making in Longcase clock n explosion in English country clockmaking Colchester, c.1715 volume dates from the late 16th century, with the by John Williamson, took place during the 18th century and occurred emigration of Huguenot clock and watchmakers to T Leeds, c.1695 Ain every part of the country. The country A 30-hour lantern clock striking the hours. London. The first English domestic clock was the lantern clockmaker, now more often than not locally trained, This East Anglian clock well shows the difference from contemporary examples clock, made in London from c.1600 onwards. Some 30 Well-proportioned slender ebonised pine longcase had the opportunity to become a respected and educated from the West Country. The corner pillars years later lantern clocks appeared in Salisbury, with the from the late 17th century, prettily decorated, member of his community. If successful – like the Archers of the posted frame movement are built work of the brothers John and Nicholas Snowe. Lantern probably in the 19th century, with a scene up from separate pillars, finials and feet following Boucher’s ‘Lovers in a Park’ and with of Stow or the Ogden family of Yorkshire – an established clock making quickly spread to Bristol and other parts of screwed together to sandwich the top and cherubs, flowers and rococo scrolling. The hood is business could be continued by further generations, with south western England. bottom plates instead of being in one piece. surmounted with a boldly carved cresting and three related members working in various towns within a The anchor escapement movement follows ball finials. The well proportioned dial reveals the region. The country gentleman no longer had to look well-established practice; however the Following the introduction of the pendulum clock to London origin of the maker. London in 1658, the first examples by country makers to London for a special clock; a local clockmaker was steelwork is exceptionally well finished. working near to London appeared around 1670. Some 5 sometimes able to provide fine workmanship nearer to years later they were being made in Frome and Bristol. home. Although the individuality expressed in work of Table clock Many of these early provincial clocks were by makers the early makers naturally merged into local and then by John Wrench, trained in London, either relocating or simply returning regional styles, these styles remain recognisable today. home. Examples include Abraham Fromanteel in Lantern clock Chester, c.1725 Newcastle, William Raynes in York and John Williamson by George Newton, Seend, 1677 A table clock with a case veneered in walnut with in Leeds. Towards the end of the 17th century more partially-gilt mouldings and a deeply-engraved clockmakers were learning their trade locally, such as A lantern clock of substantial construc- dial with a silvered disc showing 4 phases of the George Newton of Seend in Wiltshire, Richard Howe tion typical of the Wiltshire makers with a moon in the arch. It does not strike the hours of Dorchester, Richard Savage around Shrewsbury and but a cord coming out through the right side of posted-frame 30-hour movement. The dial Wall clock Arthur Davies of Westleigh. the case can be pulled to repeat the time to the engraving, when compared with the work by Samuel Day, of the Bristol makers, is somewhat naive; it nearest quarter on two bells, the hour on the bears the signature and date in the upper Saffron Walden, c.1735 large bell followed by ting-tang quarters on the two bells. Primarily for use in a bedroom. Lantern clock dial corners and has a single hand secured by a shaped brass nut. A weight-driven wall clock with plain by Richard Greenhill, rectangular bracketed pine case painted Ashford, c.1675 brown. The well-made plate-frame 30- Longcase clock hour timepiece movement has pull hour- by James Woolley, Longcase clock movement repeating work utilising a rack and snail; A large three-train 30-hour lantern Codnor, c.1730 clock striking the quarters on a by Lawrence Debnam, the pull cord hangs below the case. The peal of four bells and the hours on Frome, 1675 most unusual escapement has a small A square-dialled 8-day striking clock in well- a large bell. The engraved dial has anchor embracing 3½ of the 15 escape proportioned ebonised longcase. The hood a silvered chapter ring engraved A West Country clock with an unusual 8-day wheel teeth and a pivoted short bob has a domed, bold cornice, fretted frieze and with hours, minutes and quarters; posted-frame movement, originally made for pendulum. The single-handed dial has attached columns with gilded caps and bases. it has both hour and minute hands. a floor-standing longcase in which it would a boldly-engraved chapter ring, matted The long door has a square top and brass- Timekeeping is controlled by a short have stood on the four spike feet. The brass centre and helmeted head spandrels. framed lenticle. The dial is boldly engraved pendulum having an anchor-shaped dial has cherub’s head spandrels and floral with decorative half-hour markers and day of bob mounted between the bars engraved centre with scrolling signature. The the month ring. The plate-frame rack-striking carrying the wheelwork. two hands show the time on a silvered chapter movement has nicely-finished steelwork and ring. The timekeeping is controlled by a long an hour-striking trip repeat lever with pulley pendulum and anchor escapement. Longcase clock work to be operated from a room above or by Thomas Ogden, below. Musical clock movement Longcase clock Halifax, c.1735 by William Raynes, by Arthur Davis, York, c.1678 Westleigh, c.1685 A 30-hour striking clock in a simple but pleasing Longcase clock oak longcase with a bull’s eye lenticle. The square by John Gilkes, An ebonised pine longcase clock with A West Country musical 30-hour striking dial with hour and minute hands has a typical a 30-hour movement. The maker was clock movement, well illustrating this silvered chapter ring with decorative half-hour north Oxfordshire, c.1740 apprenticed and worked in London before maker’s idiosyncratic design. The but no quarter-hour markers. The matted dial A classic example of a 30-hour longcase going to York and this clock clearly follows wheelwork is contained within a double- centre has a penny moon showing the phases of clock from the north Oxfordshire- London fashions with its twisted columns, plate frame with going and striking in the moon, while the age is shown in a hexagonal Warwickshire border area. The narrow elegant shape and bun feet. The the front compartment and the musical opening to the right. The day of the month is movement strikes the hours and the dial octagonal shape of the lenticle showing work in the rear. The dial centre shown in a pentagonal opening above VI. The has a wriggle-work-finished centre. The the long pendulum is unusual. The dial is engraving depicts flowers springing plate-frame movement has arched plates and clock hangs from a hook in the back engraved with an open floral design and from a vase against a vertically-hatched anchor escapement. of the case. These movements are also shows the day of the month above VI. background. commonly found without cases. The hour striking movement is between plates.

Longcase clock by John Greaves, Longcase clock Newcastle, c.1750 by Robert Apps, Battle, c.1800 A walnut-veneered longcase clock with an 8- day hour-striking movement. The case is of A 30-hour striking longcase clock. The oak case uncomplicated design with restrained cornice is of a simple design with a flat top, attached and mouldings in cross-grained walnut. hood columns and a square-topped long door. The dial has, in the arch, an engraved disc 19th Century The white-painted dial has painted spandrels, showing the phases of the moon surrounded Arabic hour numerals and a semi-circular 1750-1800 by an engraved ring showing internally the date aperture. The plate-frame movement has time of high tide, probably intended for use the maker’s recognisable features, including as a universal tide dial with a moveable hand, adjustable anchor pallets and his striking work and externally the age of the moon. The plate incorporating a large vertically-mounted fly frame movement is of conventional design. rotating within the bell.

he growth of the Industrial Revolution had its effect Wall clock t the start of the 19th century the individual on clockmaking. New methods of manufacture by Thomas Cox, making of clocks was already on the path to long Longcase clock Tstarted in localities where the essential raw Thornbury, c.1760 Adecline. Clockmakers gradually became retailers, by John Whitehurst II, materials, fuel and power were readily available, such as selling, repairing and maintaining clocks but making Derby, c.1800 Birmingham and other locations in the Midlands. This led A wall alarm clock in a simple ‘salt very few from scratch. All the parts of a longcase clock box’ case, having a single handed dial An 8-day noctuary clock. A noctuary was to a supply of ready-made, or partially-made, components could be bought in and finished. For domestic purposes and movements, together with finished painted dials, with rococo spandrels, silvered chapter used principally to monitor a watchman’s available by carrier to all parts of the country. The number ring, matted centre and silvered alarm brass dials were now almost entirely replaced by painted rounds. The boldly-engraved silvered disc. The plate-frame timepiece move- dial is numbered every 15 minutes to of clockmakers increased further to meet the needs of dials ordered in from a variety of factories. These dials ment is well made and has an anchor became larger and more colourful. correspond with each one of the 48 pins prospective customers in the newly-created middle and escapement and a long pendulum. The set in the central revolving disc; these pins wealthy classes. 30-hour alarm mechanism is mounted were to have been depressed in turn by between the plates. Initially the longcase clock was produced in increasing a lever (missing) projecting through the The increasing import of mahogany and other exotic numbers but it lost its slender proportions, becoming hole below XII, operated from outside the timbers led to the establishment of furniture companies Longcase clock ever wider. The weight-driven wall alarm clock running clock, every quarter of an hour. The neat and they soon became important makers of clock cases. oak case is typical of a Midlands domestic by Thomas Lister senior, for just 30 hours was replaced by the English dial clock, clock of the period. Complex clocks, such as that by Jonas Barber, in grand Luddenden, c.1760 spring-driven, running for 8-days but made in factories mahogany cases were produced by makers in the cities and and bought in to order. They found widespread use in Table clock ports of the Industrial Revolution, not those in the home An 8-day striking longcase clock in oak case shops, offices, factories, schools and of course the railways. counties. with cornice and caddy top. The hood has by Booth, red-fabric-backed sound frets and turned The growth of the railways led to the standardisation of Pontefract, c.1800 There has always been an association of scientists with mahogany columns; the trunk has recessed time across the country. No timetable could cope with quarter columns and the long door a shaped each local time being different by a number of minutes A small mahogany table clock with an clockmakers; Thomas Tompion and Robert Hooke top. The rolling moon in the arch dial shows are perhaps the best known. Most of this association from London time. Less expensive, mass-produced clocks 8-day striking movement. The case has the age and phase. The silvered chapter a moulded top, carrying handle and happened in London but the new wealthy industrialists ring has decorative half-hour markers and were increasingly imported from abroad, particularly side sound frets. The white dial has the of the Midlands and the North were also able to indulge the silvered centre shows seconds and the Germany, France and America. To survive in business four seasons painted in the spandrels their scientific interests and employ the most talented date through a sector above VI. The plate-frame movement has an the country clockmaker had no option but to adapt to the and a figure of Justice in the arch. The clockmakers. Examples include the clockmaker Henry anchor escapement and inside countwheel striking. changes. small plate-frame movement has chain fusees and a verge escapement with a Hindley in York, an inventive and accomplished instrument Longcase clock maker; Samuel Deacon in Leicestershire, who was tutored bob pendulum. by Jonas Barber junior, Longcase clock by the Reverend William Ludlam, a mathematician Winster, 1763 by Caleb Boney, skilled in practical mechanics and astronomy; and John Wall clock Whitehurst of Derby, member of the Lunar Society, a Padstow, c.1810 An 8-day mahogany chiming and musical by Whitehurst, clockmaker, instrument maker and geologist. longcase clock. The case is a fine example An 8-day astronomical clock in a well- Derby, c.1834 of the Lancashire Chippendale style. The detailed red-walnut longcase. The large arch dial has, in the centre, subsidi- astronomical dial and wheelwork is An 8-day hour-striking wall clock. This Wall clock ary dials showing the month and the day derived from James Ferguson’s Select by John Huggin, utilitarian clock with its highly legible white- of the week. The year is indicated in an Mechanical Exercises, 1773. The outer 24- painted iron dial was probably intended for Ashwellthorpe, c.1760 aperture in the left subsidiary. The arch hour ring of the dial is static and read by commercial and domestic staff use. The plate- contains a rolling moon disc, graduated to a hand fixed to the inner 29½ day rotating frame movement is of good quality and has an show the age of the moon and time of high An East Anglian 30-hour hooded alarm clock lunar ring; this ring is read by the moon anchor escapement with a ½-second pendulum in an oak and pine case with ornamental water at Hull, but with a moveable pointer pointer, which itself rotates to show the moon’s phase, and is mounted and countwheel striking. bracket. The single-handed arch dial has rococo for use as a universal tide dial. The substantial 3-train striking and on the central rotating earth disc. The inner rotating disc is engraved spandrels, silvered chapter ring, alarm disc and chiming movement has trip repeat of the hour. with the annual calendar, the sun’s place in the zodiac, the positions matted centre. The plate frame movement has of fixed stars and other astronomical information. Longcase clock movement an anchor escapement and a long pendulum. Longcase clock by Henry Ward, by Thomas Lindley/Samuel Deacon, Clock movement Blandford, c.1808 Wall clock Leicester, 1775 by Benjamin Harlow, by Porthouse, The large skeletonised movement of a Lane End, c.1825 month-going equation regulator clock in a Darlington, c.1790 A massive 4-train 8-day musical chiming mahogany case with triangular pediment and striking longcase clock having a sturdily A mill clock movement. This 8-day clock and glazed trunk door. The square silvered A drumhead mahogany striking wall clock. constructed blue-painted and gilt case. The clock was used to record, on the top three dial indicates, at the top, mean time minutes The finely made and well-detailed case strikes the hours, chimes the quarters and at 3, dials, the total time that a mill wheel and the variation of solar time; seconds and has carved mouldings around the circular 6, 9 and 12 o’clock plays each day one of 7 tunes or mill engine ran during a period of hours are shown in the lower two dials. The movement is exquisitely engraved brass dial and quarter fluted three times. The exquisite heavy plate-frame four six-day weeks, including days and made with large finely-cut wheels. The kidney-shaped cam at the columns on either side of the trunk. The movement has a music cylinder at the top with nights, based on a fixed engine speed. top controls solar time. The pallets for the pin-wheel escapement conventional 8-day movement has a trip 14 bells, 8 quarter and 14 music hammers. The This could then be subtracted from the are mounted on the rod of the lever-compensated pendulum. They hour-repeat and a cord-operated lever, which front plate is engraved ‘Made Sepr Octr Novr actual time shown in the bottom dial protrude into the clock movement to engage with pins on the escape silences the striking bell but allows the train 1775 SD’. The anchor escapement has a heavy and the ‘down time’ deducted. wheel. to run. The folding pendulum is unusual. pendulum with beat adjustment.