Transcript

of

Exeter Clocks

Devon Notes & Queries, vol. I, (January 1900 to January 1901), illus., pp. 177-180.

by

The Editors

Prepared by Michael Steer

This entry contains two Notes: 135 providing information on several of Exeter’s ancient church clocks, some of which have since disappeared; and 136, providing descriptive information on Lovelace’s Clock which was displayed in the 1851 Exhibition. Many historic clocks in the city have vanished without trace in relatively recent time, for example, St Petrock’s Church clock in the High Street. The clock at St Mary Steps is one of the earliest and most interesting to have survived in the city. This extract, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from google books, with a search by either author or title, and also from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

Note 135. EXETER CLOCKS. Few places probably can show more interesting relics of primitive horology than Exeter. "From the patent rolls of Edward II.," the late Mr. Britton observes, in his description of Exeter Cathedral, "it is evident there was a clock in this church in 1317. In the fabric roll under the year 1376-77, the sum of 119s. 9d. is set down for expenses 'circa camevam in boreali turre pro Horologio quod vocatur clock (this appears to be the earliest mention of the word) de novo constmendam.' The whole charge in the 'roll nova camera pro horologio' is 106s. 5 1/2d. In the same rolls we find repeated entries relative to the clock. In 1424-25, two men were sent off on horseback to fetch Roger, clock- maker from Barnstaple."

Whatever its construction, no trace of the original horologe can be found, but of its successor, stated to have been pre- sented by Bishop Courtenay in 1480, the wrought-iron framing and the great wheel are preserved, and were quite recently to be seen in the Chapter House. It is stated that this clock was made by Peter Lightfoot, but if the date of its construction (1480) is correct, this cannot be true, for Lightfoot had then been dead some years. The dial which still does duty bears a resemblance to one of Lightfoot's at Glastonbury, from which it was possibly copied. It shows the hour of the day, and the age of the moon ; upon the face or dial, which is about seven feet in diameter, are two circles, one marked from one to thirty for the moon's age. the other figured from I. to XII. twice over for the hours. In the centre is a semi-globe, representing the earth, round which a smaller ball, the moon, painted half white and half black, revolves every month, and in turning upon its axis shows the varying phases of the luminary which it represents ; between the two circles is a third ball, representing the sun, with a fleur de lis, which points to the hours as the sun, according to the ancient theory, daily revolved round the earth. Underneath it is the inscription, Pereunt et imputantur (they [the hours] pass and are placed to our account). In 1760 the clock was thoroughly repaired by William Howard, when an additional dial to show the minutes was provided and placed on the top of the case as shown in the illustration. The movement was re-placed by a modern one in 1885.

The hours are still struck on "Great Peter," a fine-toned bell in the north tower. This bell was the gift of Bishop Courtenay, and was brought from Llandaff (1478-1486). According to Worth's excellent Guide to Exeter Cathedral, it was recast in 1676 by Thomas Perdue. Its weight, as computed by the Rev. H. T. Ellacombe, is 14,000 lbs., its diameter at the mouth 76 inches, and its height 56 inches.

In the tower of the Church of St. Mary Steps, nearby where once stood the old West Gate, is a most curious clock, which is probably a production of the sixteenth century. The dial is embellished with basso-relievos representing the four seasons. In an alcove over the dial are three automatic figures. The centre one is the statue of Henry VIII. in a sitting posture, which, on the clock striking the hour, inclines the head at every stroke. On each side is a soldier in military attire, holding a javelin in one hand and a hammer with a long handle in the other. The soldiers strike the quarters by alternate blows on two bells beneath their feet.

The three figures are termed by many Exonians "Matthew the Miller and his two sons," from the fact that "Matthew the Miller," who resided in a place known as Cricklepit Lane, was remarkable for his integrity and regular course of life. His punctuality of going at one hour for and returning with his grist led his neighbours to judge with tolerable exactness the time of day from his passing. By this the statue received its vulgar name.

Some years ago the following distich used to be current in Exeter:-

Matthew the Miller's alive
Matthew the Miller is dead
For every hour in Westgate Tower
Matthew nods his head.

Another old clock is contained in the tower of St. Petrock's Church, in the High Street. This timekeeper is believed to date from 1470. In the tower also is a peal of six bells, the oldest of which bears the arms of Henry V. or VI., not later than 1425.

Note 136. LOVELACE'S CLOCK. Jacob Lovelace was born in the city of Exeter, where, in 1766, at the age of sixty, he ended his days in great poverty, having been thirty-four years engaged in constructing the monumental clock shown in the accompanying engraving. The mechanism is enclosed in an elegant cabinet ten feet high, five feet wide, and weighing half a ton, ornamented with Oriental figures and finely executed paintings, bordered by richly carved fretwork. The movements are: 1 . A moving panorama descriptive of day and night. Day is represented by Apollo in his car drawn by four spirited coursers, accompanied by the twelve hours; and Diana in her car drawn by stags, attended by the twelve hours, represents Night. 2. Two gilt figures in Roman costume, who turn their heads and salute with their swords as the panorama revolves, and also move in the same manner while the bells are ringing. 3. A perpetual almanack, showing the day of the month on a semi-circular plate, the index returning to the first day of every month on the close of each month, without alteration even in leap years, regulated only once in 130 years. 4. A circle, the index of which shows the day of the week, with its appropriate planet. 5. A perpetual almanack, showing the days of the month and the equation of time. 6. A circle showing the leap year, the index revolving only once in four years. 7. A timepiece that strikes the hours and chimes the quarters, on the face of which the whole of the twenty-four hours (twelve day and twelve night) are shown and regulated ; within this circle the sun is seen in his course, with the time of rising and setting, by an horizon receding or advancing as the days lengthen or shorten, and under is seen the moon, showing her different quarters, phases, age, etc. 8. Two female figures on either side of the dial- plate, representing Fame and Terpsichore, who move in time when the organ plays. 9. A movement regulating the clock as a repeater, to strike or to be silent. 10. Saturn, the god of Time, who beats in movement when the organ plays. 11. A circle on the face shows the names of eight celebrated tunes played by the organ in the interior every four hours. 12. A belfry with six ringers, who ring a merry peal. The interior of this part of the cabinet is ornamented with beautiful paintings, representing some of the principal ancient buildings in the city of Exeter. 13. Connected with the Organ is a bird organ, which plays when required. Beside the dial is the inscription, "Tempus rerum Imperator".

According to an advertisement in the Flying Post, June 5th, 1821, this clock was about to be publicly exhibited; and in the same publication for September 8th, 1834, it was announced that " Lovelace's celebrated clock," which was for several years was in the collection of Mr. James Burt, had the previous week been sold by auction for 680 guineas by the noted George Robins.

At the International Exhibition, 1851, it was a prominent feature in the Western Gallery. It then belonged to Mr. Brutton, who had it put in order by Mr. Frost, of Exeter, after it had been deranged for some years. In 1888, a suggestion was made in the Exeter Press that the clock should be pur- chased for the Imperial Institute, but nothing came of it, and the clock was afterwards acquired for the Liverpool Museum, where it remains.

NOTE. The Editors are indebted to the courtesy of Mr. F. J. Britton in permitting the reprint of these Notices of Exeter Clocks from his valuable work, entitled,"Old Clocks and Watches and their Makers, being an historical and descriptive account of the different styles of Clocks and Watches of the past in England and Abroad, to which is added a list of eight thousand makers, with four hundred illustrations. London : B. T. Batsford, 1899," and also for the use of the illustrations.