An Oak Thirty Hour Longcase Clock by James Joyce of Whitchurch, Shropshire. Circa 1790 (Long Case)

This is a very pretty clock in good condition by one of the Joyce's of Whitchurch, who became famous Turret clock makers. James Joyce was the Grandson of William Joyce who started the business in the North Shropshire village of Cockshutt in 1690. It was James who moved the business to Whitchurch. The company is now the oldest clockmaking business in the world.

The movement is thirty hour duration, chain driven with Anchor recoil escapement and countwheel striking the hours on a bell.

The dial is eleven inch square, painted iron 'white dial' probably made by Wilson of Birmingham. The corners decorated with roses and the chapter area having fine inner and outer lined circles and containing black Roman hour numerals, dotted minute divisions and Arabic five minute numerals. The central part bearing the maker's signature of "JA(me)s. JOYCE, (of) WHITCHURCH" applied in an arch above centre and a squared drop-mouth calendar aperture with gilt edging and decoration is just below the centre and the hands are blued steel 'Serpentine' style. The dial is fitted to the movement directly without a 'false-dial'.

The case is well-proportioned, of a good colour and made from oak, it has mahogany crossbanding applied to the inner edge of the hood door, the edge of the trunk door and around the raised base panel.

The flat top cornice is surmounted with a sound box that has a relief panelled front. The cornice is above a blind-fretted frieze and the hood door is flanked with tapered and reeded pillars with turned capitals. The pillars are copied and quartered to the trunk front corners and the full-length door has a scrolled top. The base has canted and reeded front corners with 'lamb's ears' to the bottom and the front carries a raised panel with a shaped top. The plinth has a scroll shaped bottom incorporating feet.

This clock was fully restored by the firm of Tom Tribe before 1995 and it is believed that the owner spent a considerable sum on its restoration. We purchased the clock privately from Salisbury and it is a superb example of a thirty hour longcase clock made by a maker belonging to an important clockmaking dynasty.

The clock is excellent, previously restored well and in working order. The price is for the clock completely overhauled.

The purchased item can be collected at a time mutually agreed or if required, delivery can be arranged for which we are happy to provide a quotation.

For further information, please email us at:

info@bournemouthclocks.co.uk.