Early Clocks | Lee Borrett
George Newton
"An Ingenius Man"
At Seend
When the antiquary John Aubrey visited Seend in 1666, he described George Newton as “an ingeniose man, who from a blacksmith turned clockmaker to fiddlemaker”, and recorded Newton discussing his experiments with local iron ore. The remarkable pre-Civil War lantern clock illustrated here was made by George Newton of Seend and dates from around 1636–1638, placing it amongst the exceptionally early generation of English provincial lantern clocks. Its wonderfully original construction, unusual maker and fascinating connection with Aubrey provide a rare glimpse into the beginnings of provincial English clockmaking before the outbreak of the Civil War. Please Click here to see my full article.
Attributed to James Browne
Civil War Lantern
of Bristol, c1642
This remarkable early Civil War lantern clock, c.1642, is now thought most likely to have originated in the workshop of James Browne of Bristol while his son Thomas was serving his apprenticeship there. Sir George White’s pioneering study of Thomas Browne’s only known signed lantern clock enabled him to establish the Bristol origin of a distinctive group of related clocks, from which he identified what he termed the ‘Bristol school of lantern clockmaking’. More recent archival research by Professor Jonathan Barry, based upon the original Bristol civic records, has shown that Thomas was apprenticed to his father James in 1637 and was still serving his apprenticeship when this clock was probably made. It may therefore represent one of the earliest surviving Bristol lantern clocks and an exceptionally early example from the formative years of what later became known as the Bristol School. Please Click here to see my full article.
Thomas Browne's Only Known
Signed Lantern Clock, and the
Origins of the Bristol School
This is the only known signed lantern clock by Thomas Browne of Bristol, c.1650, and provides the essential benchmark for identifying the surviving clocks associated with his mature workshop. Sir George White recognised the importance of this remarkable clock and, after examining it in America, used it as the key to establishing the Bristol origin of a group of related anonymous lantern clocks, from which he identified what he termed the ‘Bristol school of lantern clockmaking’. More recent research by Professor Jonathan Barry, based upon the original Bristol civic records, has shown that Thomas was apprenticed to his father, James Browne, and his wife Elizabeth on 12 October 1637 as a smith, providing important new evidence concerning the origins of the Browne family workshop. Please Click here to see my full article.
James Brundle Fecit
circa 1660
This remarkable early lantern clock, dating from around 1660, is a particularly evocative survivor from the opening years of Restoration England, when the monarchy was restored under King Charles II after eleven years without a king. Its beautifully engraved tulip dial, original iron hand, distinctive half-hour markers and remarkably complete early movement give it considerable horological interest. Of particular importance is the boldly engraved signature ‘James Brundle Fecit’; at present, this appears to be the only known surviving lantern clock bearing his name. Please Click here to see my full article.
Richard Savage Fecit
Dated 1692
This wonderfully historic lantern clock, dated 1692 and retaining its original verge escapement, was made by Richard Savage of Much Wenlock in Shropshire. Remarkably, the clock can be associated with the marriage of Edward Pardoe and Millborough Brown at Yarpole Church in Herefordshire on 30 April 1692, giving it an unusually personal connection with the lives of its original seventeenth-century owners. More than three centuries later, it survives not simply as a fine example of Richard Savage’s work, but as a remarkable horological record of a marriage celebrated in the reign of William III and Mary II. Please Click here to see my full article.