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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Clock · Longcase clock

Christopher Goddard of London Longcase Clock

Partially verified

This longcase clock is attributed to Christopher Goddard of London and dates to circa 1760. It features a weight-driven, eight-day movement with five pillars, an anchor escapement, and a rack striking mechanism that sounds the full hours on a bell. The clock retains its original lead weights and pendulum. The 12-inch brass dial incorporates a silvered chapter ring with Roman numerals, an outer minute ring, a seconds ring, and a date aperture. The dial is decorated with brass spandrels and includes blued steel hands. The clock is housed in a heavily carved ebonised case, standing 220cm tall. The hood is topped with a break arch featuring a carved green man in the center, flanked by brass-capped columns and topped with two original sphere finials. The case continues with extensive carving on the trunk and base.

Full view of the Christopher Goddard of London longcase clock showing the carved ebonised case and the dial.
Full view of the Christopher Goddard of London longcase clock showing the carved ebonised case and the dial. — W J Morris Clocks. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
wjmorrisclocks.co.uk
Category
Clock · Longcase clock
Maker / attribution
Christopher Goddard
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
circa 1760
Source-reported place
London, England

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Dial and Hands

The clock features a 12-inch brass dial that serves as the visual focus for timekeeping. It includes a silvered chapter ring marked with Roman numerals for the hours and an outer ring for the minutes. A silvered seconds ring and a date aperture are integrated into the layout.

The dial is accented by brass spandrels at the corners and equipped with blued steel hands.

Evidence for this section
  • “Brass 12″ face, silvered chapter ring, Roman numerals with minutes to the outer ring, date apperture& silvered seconds ring, enclosed by brass spandrels, blued steel hands.”

Movement and Function

The timekeeping is powered by a weight-driven, eight-day movement. It is constructed with five pillars for structural support and utilizes an anchor escapement to regulate the time.

The striking mechanism is a rack strike system that indicates the full hours by ringing a bell. The clock retains its original lead weights and pendulum, components essential to the original operation of the movement.

Evidence for this section
  • “5 pillar 8 day key wound weight driven movement, anchor escapement, rack strike.”
  • “Striking the full hours to a bell.”
  • “Original lead weights & pendulum.”

Case Construction

The clock is housed in a heavily carved ebonised case measuring 220cm in height. The hood design features a break arch with a central carved green man and incorporates brass-capped columns on either side.

Two original sphere finials are mounted atop the hood. The remainder of the longcase follows the aesthetic of the hood with substantial wood carvings visible on both the trunk and the base, contributing to its overall presence.

Evidence for this section
  • “Carved ebonised case, heavily carved. Brake arch topped hood with a green man to centre, brass capped columns to the sides, mounted by 2 x original sphere finials.”

Open research questions

  • What is the documented history of Christopher Goddard’s career in London?
  • Are the carved elements on the case contemporary to the original construction of the clock or later additions?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Christopher Goddard of London Longcase Clock
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerChristopher Goddard“Christopher Goddard of London”
Datecirca 1760“circa 1760”
Movement type5 pillar 8 day key wound weight driven“5 pillar 8 day key wound weight driven movement”
Escapementanchor escapement“anchor escapement”
Strikingrack strike“rack strike”
Dial size12 inch“Brass 12″ face”
DimensionsHeight 220cm, Width 54cm, Depth 24cm“Dimensions: Height 220cm Width 54cm Depth 24cm”
Case featuresHeavily carved ebonised wood with green man motif“Carved ebonised case, heavily carved. Brake arch topped hood with a green man to centre”

Visible details

  • Carved green man motif on the hood arch
  • Brass sphere finials mounted on the hood
  • Silvered date aperture visible on the dial
  • Heavily carved case surface

Research qualifications

  • The exact provenance is not provided.
  • The source refers to the object as 'circa 1760' without providing archival documentation for this dating.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Christopher Goddard of London Longcase

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 9f33e91030

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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