As amateur horologists, we began researching clocks and clockmaking after purchasing our first longcase clock in 1978.

Over time, our interests became focused on clocks of all types made in the Gloverstone area of Chester during the eighteenth century. The Gloverstone Clockmakers of Chester is the first book we wrote together. Please see the ‘Buy our Books‘ page.

For the last twenty-five years we have also been creating a photographic record of turret clocks. We have visited churches, private houses and public buildings in order to photograph their rarely seen movements. While doing so, we became fascinated by the clocks produced by JB Joyce & Co Ltd, in nearby Whitchurch, Shropshire. Following much research into archives and clocks located all over the country, we wrote Joyce of Whitchurch – Clockmakers 1690-1965. Please see the ‘Buy our Books‘ page.

Another project was researching the history and clocks of Thomas Cooke & Sons of York. We attempted to photograph every Cooke clock we could trace. Our book The Turret Clocks of T. Cooke & Sons of York. A historical perspective 1807 – 1897 – copies are available. Please see the ‘Buy our Books‘ page.

Our COVID lockdown project is researching the clocks of James Condliff of Liverpool. James and several members of his family produced longcase, wall, table, mantle, turret clocks and watches for a period of about eighty years. In addition, their regulators and skeleton clocks are highly prized today. Their clocks were all of high quality and are characterised by their artistic designs and fine construction. For more information, click here. 

Copies of the book Lancashire Watch Company, History and Watches are available. We published it on behalf of our friend, John Platt.  Check the Lancashire Watch Company page for details of how to order a copy.

Copies are also available of the book Early Clock and Watchmakers of the Blacksmiths’ Company, by Keith Bates. Click here to visit the Blacksmiths’ page for more details of this important book.

NEWS (newest on top)

In March 2023 and June 2023 the Antiquarian Horological Society published our article Jacob Winter’s shopfront in Stockport, Cheshire: its history, context and conservation in two parts. See OUR ARTICLES.

In March 2021 our article researching the history and practicality of a  remarkable clock belonging to a friend of ours was published in Antiquarian Horology.   John Kaye of Liverpool – Can his clock predict the time and height of high water at Liverpool? See OUR ARTICLES.

The lockdown enabled us, and no doubt many other clock enthusiasts, to organise some of the information we had languishing in files and cameras awaiting time to sort them out, and to add items to our website.

Darlah has been awarded (March 2020) the Dr Alan Shenton Award for the article, A snapshot of the watchmaking industry in England through the lens of the 1881 census, which appeared in Antiquarian Horology in March 2019. See OUR ARTICLES.

Our article entitled, Getting the right time. Liverpool’s contribution in the mid nineteenth century, was published in two parts in Antiquarian Horology in March and June  2020. See OUR ARTICLES.

Click our ROYAL LIVER BUILDING page to see the hands being replaced on one of its dials and to find more information about the building and its clock.

We were awarded the Percy Dawson medal by the Antiquarian Horological Society in March 2013 for an article entitled:  William Leigh of Newton-le-Willows,  Clockmaker 1763-1824.

Available here or in Our Articles: Part 1 and Part 2.

 

 

This is the website of inbeat publications by Steve and Darlah Thomas.