
Early Clocks | Lee Borrett

James & Thomas
Browne of Bristol
Following recent archival research by Professor Jonathan Barry, these two remarkable lantern clocks may represent successive generations of the Browne family workshop. The early Civil War lantern clock, c.1642, is now thought most likely to have originated in the workshop of James Browne, while beside it stands the only known signed lantern clock by his son, Thomas Browne, c.1650. The signed clock was examined and published by Sir George White during his pioneering research into a wider group of related early Bristol lantern clocks, from which he established and coined the description ‘the Bristol school of lantern clockmaking’. Together, these two clocks may represent some of the earliest surviving work associated with that remarkable Bristol tradition.
W
elcome to Early Clocks, a website
dedicated to the study, collecting
and appreciation of early English lantern clocks, early domestic
clocks and sundials.
The collection features a selection of rare and historically important timepieces dating from c.1625 onwards. Many examples are illustrated alongside contemporary paintings and historical material to place them within the world in which they were originally made and used.
As a collector, researcher and author, I continue to acquire significant original pieces, particularly early English lantern clocks, sundials, and clocks with historically important or religiously inscribed dials. My research into early English clockmaking has been published in the Journal of the Antiquarian Horological Society (AHS) and Clocks magazine. Of particular interest is the early Bristol School of lantern clockmaking, first identified and defined through the pioneering research of Sir George White, and the work of the Browne family of Bristol. Recent archival discoveries by Professor Jonathan Barry have provided important new evidence concerning James and Thomas Browne and have enabled the surviving clocks associated with their workshop to be considered in a new light. Where new documentary evidence comes to light, the articles presented on this website are updated to reflect the latest historical research.
If you own a lantern clock, sundial or early clock you believe may be of historical interest, I would be delighted to hear from you. Please feel free to Contact Me
This website is an ongoing project and new clocks, sundials, historical articles and research are being added regularly. Please visit again to discover the latest additions to the collection.
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