One Handed Tompion Clock, St Mary’s Church, Northill, Beds, UK
Posted by: 
bill&ben
N 52° 06.313 W 000° 19.448
30U E 683252 N 5776118
A distinctive single handed clock on the south face of the tower of Northill St Mary’s Church made one of Europe’s finest clock makers.
Waymark Code: WM7N70
Location: Eastern England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 11/12/2009
Views: 2
Thomas Tompion was born at Ickwell Green, near Northill in 1639. His father was a blacksmith. For some reason (unknown) he left Northill and was apprenticed to a London clockmaker becoming a brother in the Clockmakers' Company in 1671. Tompion rapidly became known as one of the finest watch and clock makers in London receiving notice from Charles II. His achievements include making the first clocks for the Greenwich Observatory in 1676 and making one of the first English watches to be regulated by a balance spring. Tompion worked with a number of collaborators to improve his designs, including Dr. Robert Hooke, the famous physicist and mathematician. Tompion died on the 20th November 1713 and is buried in Westminster Abbey.
It is believed the Tompion clock at Northill was installed circa 1664.
Source : Bedfordshire Libraries, 2006
Status: Working
Display: Mounted
Year built: 01/01/1664
Web link to additional info: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Photo of clock.