Early Clocks
A
George Newton
Sundial, Dated 1638
Above. Sundial by George Newton, dated 1638. Shown here on its interesting early oak plinth. Private collection, Photographed by Adam Marsden.
Shown here is a charming pre-civil war brass horizontal sundial made by George Newton of Seend which is dated 1638. Measuring just under 6-inches square, Newton has scratched signed his signature either side of a large engraved Fleur-dis-Lis. Interestingly, there is a surviving lantern clock by George Newton that was made around the same time as this sundial and this also has an engraved Fleur-dis-Lis theme in its fret.
Above. Showing a close-up of George Newton's scratch signature which is engraved either side of a large Fleur-dis-Lis. Private collection, Photographed by Adam Marsden.
Below. Showing a fine lantern clock by George Newton made between around 1636-1639 and about the same time as the 1638 sundial. Interestingly, note the engraved Fleur-dis-Lis in the fret shield and also above the sheild. Private collection , Photographed by Lee Borrett
Summary
We know that apart from lantern clocks George Newton was already making Turret clocks during this early pre-civil war period and it is possible that he supplied this sundial along with a clock that he had made for someone. The earliest domestic clocks prior to the invention of the pendulum were not always accurate, and so domestic clocks had to be reset regularly using sundials as a reference. The earliest lantern clock makers would often supply their clocks accompanied by a small brass sundial that was made by the clockmaker himself.
George Newton was born between 1600-1605 and became the Seend village blacksmith in 1625.
There are five lantern clocks known to exist by George Newton. Two of these are pre-civil war with the other three are all dated, post civil war examples.
There is a pre-civil war brass Sundial known to survive by George Newton which is dated 1638 (see above).
George Newton is also known to have made, repaired and maintained turret Clocks. He was a Church warden of the Church of the Holy Cross at Seend from April 1664. He died in 1681.
Acknoweledgements
I would like to thank Adam Marsden for providing me with the photographs he took of the George Newton 1638 sundial and for allowing me to show it on this website.
Historic Event
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In the year of 1638
Interestingly, George Newton's sundial of 1638 was made around the same time as when the Queens House at Greenwich, designed by Inigo Jones in 1616 as the first major example of classical architecture in England, was completed for Henrietta Maria, (wife of King Charles I).
The Queens House at Greenwich, designed by Inigo Jones in 1616 as the first major example of classical architecture in England. It was finished around the same time as George Newton made this sundial in 1638. J. M. W. Turner, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
