East Cowes Castle Clock
making the clock
in its stately home
at the Isle of Wight College
condition and restoration
as a museum exhibit
Carisbrooke Castle Museum

John Moore - Clockmaker
An inscription on the drum tells us that the clock was made in 1819 by John Moore in Clerkenwell, London.

engraving of John Moore's factory in London 1828
This engraving shows Moore's factory in 1828.

Moore is recognised as one of the great designers and makers of turret clocks. His firm made and installed hundreds all over the British Isles and abroad, most of them for churches and other public buildings.

Traditionally, clock and watch-making had involved specialist craftsmen working at home to produce the different parts, before they were assembled by 'finishers'. Moore successfully established a factory system, which was more efficient and profitable. Even so, his clocks were not mass-produced, and each one was individually assembled and finished.

The factory had a smith's workshop and a wheel-cutting shop on the ground floor. Turret clocks, like the one in the museum, were assembled on the floor above. House clocks were produced in a workshop on the top floor.The windows were large to let in plenty of light.

making the clock · in its stately home · at the Isle of Wight College · restoring the clock · as a museum exhibit