James Woolley (clockmaker)

The clock on St Nicholas' Church, Nottingham installed in 1830, but thought to be the face of the clock by James Woolley of 1726 from the Nottingham Exchange
Clock mechanism formerly in the Nottingham Exchange and then St Nicholas' Church, Nottingham, now in Nottingham Industrial Museum

James Woolley (ca.1695 – 22 November 1786) was a watch and clockmaker from Codnor, Derbyshire.[1]

Life

He was born ca 1695, the son of Samuel Woolley and Abigail Pinegar.

He made turret clocks, one of which was installed in the Nottingham Exchange,[2] which he gifted to the Nottingham Corporation, and in return he was made an honorary burgess of Nottingham.[3] He also made longcase clocks.

He died at his house on Codnor Common on 22 November 1786,[4] a bachelor, and left his fortune to his two nephews.

Works

Public clocks include:

References

  1. ↑ Clock and Watch Makers of Nottinghamshire. Harold H. Mather. Friends of Nottingham Museums. 1979
  2. ↑ Records of the Borough of Nottingham. 9 May 1726
  3. ↑ The Date Book of remarkable and memorable events connected with Nottingham and its neighbourhood. John Frost Sutton. Simpkin & Marshall. Nottingham 1852.
  4. ↑ Derby Mercury - Thursday 23 November 1786