Historic Sunderland clock sells for £840 at auction

The so-called bracket clock is ‘signed’ on the back and the front ‘Gowlands Sunderland’ and was made during the reign of King George 111 (third),between 1760 and 1820.

Before the sale, at Reeman Dansie Auctions in Colchester, Essex, the clock had been expected to sell for between £300 and £500.

According to auctioneers Reeman Dansie the Sunderland clock has ‘an eight day twin-fusee repeat movement striking on a bell, signed: Gowlands, Sunderland; its white enamel dial with ringed winding holes and Roman numerals also signed : Gowlands,Sunderland.”

The clock is in “an ebonised architectural case with brass mounts,fish-scale side frets and garland ring-handles,on four ball feet.”

According to G.H.Baillie’s Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World Clement Gowland was a watchmaker in Sunderland between 1780 and 1800 although members of Mr Gowland’s family were running the business after

those dates.

From around 1825 until around 1840, William Gowland and his brother Clement were running the business and for a brief period in the 1830s their sister, Ann, was also a partner.