LC4A Longtown

John Blaylock (1) was the first of the family to become a clockmaker.

He was born in 1736 at a hamlet called Hunters Holm close to the river Lyne in the parish of Arthuret, Cumberland. His parents were Edward and Jenetta Blacklock.

In 1753 he was apprenticed to the clockmaker Archibald Lawrie of Carlisle for seven years.

He married Hannah Liddle of Burgh by Sands at the parish Church of St. Mary's, Carlisle on 14th February 1767.

The couple moved to Longtown in 1768 and began the Blaylock Clockmaking business.

Longcase Clock signed "BLAYLOCK" LONGTOWN

LC4A

Brass Dial 30 hour, circa 1790

In my opinion this clock is a combined father and sons production being made by John (1), William (1) and John (2). I say this because it is signed "Blaylock" without any reference to an individual member of the family and the dial has round dots indicating that is was made in the late period of brass dial production. Compared to other Blaylock 30 hour clocks I have seen this example has been made to cater for the low budget end of the market. The dial being square will have been less expensive to produce than those with an arch. The case is rather plain made of a wide grained oak and minus the quarter columns which are usually to be found on the trunk corners. Nonetheless it is an attractive clock.

The clock as found had a combination of chain and rope drive which was obviously not original. The movement weight drive sprockets are the same as those found as standard fittings on other Blaylock 30 hour clocks and in my experience they are usually fitted with a long link chain, the same as used by some other North West of England clockmakers such as Porthouse of Penrith, Monkhouse of Carlisle and Jonas Barber of Winster. The actual weight pulley however as found with the clock is of the type intended for use with a rope, being without a central groove to the pulley. Inside the base of the clock was a multitude of short lengths of rope clearly indicating that the clock had for many years been driven by a rope. I must confess I am not absolutely sure if Blaylock 30 hour clocks were originally driven by rope or chain but my inclination is to say that chain was in most cases originally used. Sadly this type of chain used on North West of England clocks is no longer available from material suppliers.

12" square dial, dotted chapter ring, oak case 6ft. 11ins. tall, replacement non matching steel hands. The shape of the top mould to the trunk door is typical of clock cases made in the Carlisle region at this period.

This concludes the series of clocks made by John Blaylock (1) of Longtown. He died in 1803 and is buried in Arthuret Churchyard. In his Will proved 18th February 1804 he bequeathed the the clockmaking business to his two sons John (2) and William (1) with a most suitable provision being made for his beloved wife Hannah. It is my belief that all the clocks made by John (1) had brass dials as I have not been able to find a painted dial clock which I could attribute to him.

We now move on to clocks made by John (2) and William (1) in their own right. The two brothers immediately began to update their products. It is true that some of the charm and aesthetic qualities of the earlier clocks gradually disappear but it is well to remember that they were in the business of making practical clocks for every day use for customers who demanded the latest designs, not the antiques we so admire today. Dials change to painted and the movements are more substantial.