Early Clocks | Lee Borrett
A wonderfully interesting primitive clock by John Ismay of Oulton, near Wigton. Photograph by Lee Borrett.
Primitive Clock
John Ismay
By
The fascinating primitive 30-hour clock illustrated here is particularly rustic and interesting. Dating between around c.1715–1718, the clock was possibly made by John Ismay of Oulton, near Wigton, either during or shortly after he had finished his apprenticeship to the celebrated Yorkshire Quaker clockmaker John Ogden. It is presently the earliest surviving complete clock by John Ismay to have come to light, pre-dating his known Wigton clocks and making it an historically important survivor from the formative years of the Wigton School of Clockmaking. Ismay was the much younger stepbrother of John Sanderson of Wigton and, after returning to Cumberland, appears to have worked closely within Sanderson’s distinctive clockmaking tradition. This wonderfully primitive clock already displays many of the characteristics that would become associated with the Wigton School. The clock was made using remarkably crude materials, with major casting flaws visible in both the movement and dial. Ismay probably not only made much of the clock himself, but also engraved the dial. The chapter-ring markings are unevenly spaced and rather crudely executed, giving the clock an extraordinary individuality and making me wonder whether it was ever intended for sale on the open market, or perhaps he made it whilst still serving his apprenticeship for his own use or for someone known to him. The polished brass dial carries the words ‘MEMENTO MORI’ in its two upper corners — the ancient reminder to ‘remember that you must die’ — while the movement is a heavily built iron and brass lantern-type construction typical of this early Cumbrian tradition.
Today the clock is housed in a primitive oak and elm longcase. However, like a number of early clocks associated with the Wigton School, I believe it probably began life without a longcase, standing instead on a simple wall bracket which would have left its substantial brass and iron movement fully exposed. The present case appears to have been added later.
A Clock
Made to Travel?
An intriguing piece of documentary evidence discovered in the records of the Edinburgh Hammermen provides a fascinating glimpse into how clocks from the Wigton School could have been marketed during this period.
On 18 May 1715, two clocks belonging to John Sanderson of Wigton were seized in Edinburgh after he had apparently brought them there for sale. The clocks were subsequently returned to him upon payment of twenty shillings sterling, and three days later Sanderson entered into a bond agreeing not to bring clocks, watches or similar work into Edinburgh for sale again. There is no evidence that the John Ismay clock shown here ever travelled to Edinburgh, and we cannot know how Sanderson’s two clocks were housed. Nevertheless, the episode demonstrates that clocks from this remarkable little Cumbrian workshop tradition were being carried considerable distances in search of customers. The late Brian Loomes suggested that some of these early lantern-style 30-hour movements were originally made to stand on simple wall brackets rather than being housed immediately in expensive longcases. Such an arrangement would not only have reduced their cost but would also have made them considerably easier to transport. Looking at the wonderfully substantial exposed movement of this early Ismay clock, it is easy to imagine how impressive such a clock must once have appeared standing openly on the wall of an early eighteenth-century Cumbrian home.
The Dial
Above. Showing the wonderfully primitive 12 inch square brass dial of an interesting 30-hour wall clock by John Ismay of Oulton (near wigton), c1715. Photograph by Lee Borrett.
Above. Showing a close-up of the John Ismay polished dial centre with cup-and-ringing, a round date calendar and very interesting and enigmatic face-like motif. Note the flawed chapter ring castings at the 35 and 45 minute markings. Photograph by Lee Borrett.
Above A close-up of the wonderfully interesting and primitive John Ismay chapter ring engravings including his signature 'John Ismay, Oulton Fecit' Photograph by Lee Borrett.
Above. The top left hand corner has cup-and-ringing with arrow head markings each side of the word 'MEMENTO'. Photograph by Lee Borrett.
Above. The top right hand corner has cup-and-ringing with arrow head markings each side of the word 'MORI' plus a spiral engraving. Photograph by Lee Borrett.
Above. The bottom right hand corner has cup-and-ringing which John Ismay has drilled around original casting faults and blow holes in the brass dial. Photograph by Lee Borrett.
The Movement
Above. Showing a rear view of the John Ismay iron and brass birdcage movement. Photograph by Lee Borrett.
Above. Showing a side view of the John Ismay iron and brass birdcage movement. Photograph by Lee Borrett.
Above. Showing the top plate of the John Ismay movement. Typically on these early Wigton School clocks, the movement is fixed to the dial from the top plate by two pins. Photograph by Lee Borrett.
Below. Showing another view of the top plate. Interestingly, John Ismay originally drilled the unused holes for the hammer stand in the wrong position and subsequently had to reposition them! Photograph by Lee Borrett.
The Oak Case
Above. Showing the clock housed in its primitive oak case. I believe this clock was probably originally made by John Ismay to stand on a simple wall bracket, leaving its substantial lantern-type movement exposed. Like a number of early clocks associated with the Wigton School, it appears to have been housed in a longcase later in its life. Photograph by Lee Borrett.
Summary
John Ismay was born at Thursby, near Wigton in Cumberland, in 1699 and was apprenticed in 1711 to the celebrated Quaker clockmaker John Ogden of Bowbridge in Yorkshire. He appears to have left his apprenticeship early and returned to Cumberland by about 1717, subsequently working within the distinctive clockmaking tradition established by his much older stepbrother, John Sanderson of Wigton.
Ismay later lived at Tiffinthwaite and died in 1755. Today only a small number of clocks bearing his name are known to survive, several carrying the religious verses and distinctive constructional features associated with the Wigton School.
The wonderfully primitive Oulton clock illustrated here, dating from around c.1717–1718, is presently the earliest complete surviving clock by John Ismay known to me. With its heavily constructed lantern movement, flawed brass castings, crude but wonderfully characterful engraving and prominent ‘MEMENTO MORI’ inscription, it provides an extraordinary glimpse into the formative years of one of England’s most distinctive provincial clockmaking traditions.
