A Victorian turret clock and bell by Gillett & Johnston, Croydon,
dated 1895, the twin-barrel movement, signed to the frame 'Gillett & Co.', and to the silvered setting dial, 'Gillett & Johnston, Croydon',
54.5cm wide
34cm deep
45cm high
setting dial 8.5cm diameter,
with a patinated copper dial,
with Roman numerals, with raised shamrocks to the spandrels,
76.5cm square,
with nine cast iron weights,
18 to 20cm diameter,
an ash pendulum, with a weight,
125.5cm long,
a cast bell,
numbered '1503' and 'Gillett & Johnston, Croydon, 1895',
top bar 68cm wide
38.5cm diameter
34cm high,
a crank handle, four pulleys, a wood cradle and a cast iron wheel,
cast '1ft 9in RG', and
a collection of rods (qty.)
Provenance: Elveden Hall Stables.
The original inventory from Gillett & Johnston, dated 7 May 1898, shows that William Young - the architect Lord Iveagh had commissioned to make alterations at Elveden Hall and stables - placed the order which reads:
'Lord Iveagh Elveden Stables Elveden Hall Thetford '8637' / No 1 striking 3 Bell & Hangings / Two 3'6" sq copper black and gold with cast brass shamrock in each corner / Carriage / Fixing / Must go check with once winding / Not carpenters work or scaffold / Net 130 / July 19 / 4 1/4 Bell - Extra 7.10 / Extra Weight for larger bell 2.10'.
The firm of Gillett & Johnston can trace its roots back to the clockmaker William Gillett who moved from Hadlow, Kent, to Clerkenwell in 1837. In 1844 he relocated again, this time to Union Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon. Charles Bland became a partner in 1854 and the company subsequently traded as Gillett & Bland. In 1877, Arthur A Johnston (c.1851-1916) bought a partnership, and shortly afterward, extended the company's output by establishing a bell foundry. The business became known as Gillett, Bland & Co. until Bland's death in c.1884 when the name was changed to Gillett & Co. The name Gillett & Johnston seems to have been used from around 1887. Arthur Johnston's son, Cyril Frederick Johnston (1884-1950), joined the company in 1902, became a partner in 1907, and took over the firm following his father's death in 1916. He developed an interest in the theory of bell tuning, and greatly expanded the bell founding side of the business.
During the First World War, the factory suspended its regular business and became involved in the manufacture of munitions, employing over 1,250 men and women. The firm became a limited liability company in 1925, initially trading as the Croydon Bell Foundry Ltd. (although the name 'Gillett & Johnston' still appeared on bells). It reverted to the name Gillett & Johnston Ltd. in 1930. After going into receivership in 1957, the company was subsequently reborn and still trades today as clockmakers specialising in the maintenance and restoration of turret clocks.
Take advantage of our Sworders Delivery Service. Please see 'Shipping estimate' below.
Sold for £2,800
Condition Report
Worn, all pieces with wear and no hands for the clock.
In need of restoration.
IN PERSON
To bid in person at auction for the first time please register for a bidding paddle in advance by filling out and submitting a registration form at our front desk. When registering in person we require photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence.
ABSENTEE BIDDING
If you cannot attend the auction in person we can bid on your behalf. You can leave an absentee bid on our website.
The amount you bid should be your maximum bid. We will bid up to that limit for you, and remember you may end up paying less than your limit, depending on other bidding on the day.
You can leave an absentee bid up to half an hour before the start of any sale. Please note when we receive two or more absentee bids for the same amount, the first bid received will be the one taken.
LEAVE COMMISSION BIDS ONLINE
If you would like to leave a commission bid on our website you can do so up until 30 minutes before the sale starts. Leaving a commission bid through sworder.co.uk is free for all registered clients. Thereafter you may register bank card details under your account in order to bid live. Click here to register an account.
BID LIVE ON sworder.co.uk
You can bid live at our auctions from the comfort of your home or office using bidding platform Sworders Live. It is easy to register and you can watch the auction live as it happens. A 'Bid Live' button will appear on the auction on our website homepage when a sale is live; simply click the button to sign in or register with your card details. There is no additional charge for this service.
For further instructions on registering to bid live, please click here.
TELEPHONE BIDDING
If you would like to bid by telephone please contact our team prior to the auction with your details of the lots you are interested in and your full name, address, telephone number(s) and email address. Once our team have entered your bid request you will receive an email confirmation. We will contact you during the sale and one of our team will bid live with you over the phone.
Please note that we normally offer this service for lots with an estimate of £500 or higher and all telephone bid requests must be received by close of business the day before the auction.
Auction: The Guinness Sale at Elveden, 14th Sep, 2023
‘I wish all the recipients of lots from this Elveden auction years of enjoyment from their purchase, as I believe the vast majority of these items are likely to be heirlooms for generations of the future.’
Edward Iveagh
Viewing
Sale Location
The auction will take place at Elveden Hall, London Road, Elveden, Thetford IP24 3TQ. The sale commences at 10am, with doors open from 8.30am.
Viewing
Viewing will be held at Elveden Hall, London Road, Elveden, Thetford IP24 3TQ.
Entrance by catalogue only, admits two.
Purchased in advance - £35 (inc. postage) – Please send contact details to accounts@sworder.co.uk
Purchased on the door - £30
Saturday 9 September, 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10 September, 10am - 4pm
Monday 11 September, 10am - 7pm
Tuesday 12 September, 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 13 September, 10am - 4pm
All lots are, however, extensively illustrated and carry detailed condition reports - see 'Condition report' at the foot of each lot description.
Refreshments by Maision Bleue available on site.
Lots from Farmleigh are denoted by a ☘
Sorry, we cannot calculate a pre-sale automated shipping cost due to the items weight/size.
Should you be successful in buying this item, a specific shipping estimate can be requested after the sale by using the link in your invoice email; this also includes requests for international delivery.
If you would like further information about shipping and collection please see here.
Buying a pre-loved, antique, or vintage item not only provides you with unique style and value for money but it also helps to reduce landfill, and the annual emissions of an antique or vintage piece can be as little as one sixteenth of those of its new equivalent!
Sworders is proud to be supporting the work of Antiques are Green - the movement that was founded in 2009 to promote “a greener future created from the past”. Read their fascinating carbon footprint study of a Georgian chest of drawers versus a modern equivalent here
Here at Sworders, we are happy to offer a free online valuation service. Please fill out the form and press the 'Submit' button below.
To help us with your valuation please attach clear photographs of the item where possible. You can submit up to 5.
Approximate dimensions are also useful. Expect to hear from the appropriate valuer as soon as possible.