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Clockmaker/By : William Costen of Kirkham (Lancashire).

Duration : 8 Day

Circa : 1795

Height : 84 inches.

Case :
Gillows of Lancaster mahogany case, square hood with dentil moulding at top.
Silk backed fretwork to sides of arch.
Moulded surrounds to hood door and rear splats.
Brass capped reeded columns to hood.
Long trunk door with wavy top and reeded pillars to trunk sides.
Canted corners to base and bracket feet.
Width at widest point 21.75" (Hood).

Dial :
Wilson painted rolling moon arched dial 18" x 13" with well painted sea scape and land scape.
Tidal dial readings with pointer hands for setting at high and low tide.
Central brass calendar hand and brass seconds dial.
Matching steel hour and minute hands.
Roman numerals.
Maker's name in arch.

At the time this clock was made bridges were few and far between and it was essential for people living near the coast and tidal rivers to know the exact state of the tides, both high and low water - the former for shipping purposes and the latter for fording. Comparatively few clocks were made to indicate these conditions.

Maker :
There were three members of the Costen family who were clockmakers in Kirkham:

Adam Costen moved to Kirkham where he was apprenticed and became free in 1737. He set up business there in 1739 and was still working in the 1780's. Some of his clocks are dated on the dial e.g.1757, 1765, 1779.

John Costen was working circa 1770 until he died in 1803.He worked with his brother William Costen up to his death. These two brothers were probably the sons of Adam Costen.

William Costen worked in association with his brother John until 1803 and then it is assumed he continued on alone.

Price : £ SOLD

Guarantee : 12 months