Earliest surviving indexed copy of the Charter and Byelaws dated 1647
The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers is an ancient City of London Livery Company, governed by its Royal Charter of 1631 and its bye-laws of 1632. It is not a club or a society.
Membership brings great pleasure to those interested in or employed in horology, but also a number of responsibilities and obligations, some of which include supporting the Company financially.
Application forms and details of membership can be obtained from The Clerk’s office, but each applicant for the freedom must be proposed and seconded by members of the Company, one of whom must be a member of the Court of Assistants.
Helping in the Company’s work
The Company has a long history. Among its Freemen have been some of the most famous clock and watch makers the world has ever known. These include Edward East (freed 1632), Ahasuerus Fromanteel (1632), Thomas Tompion (1671), George Graham (1695), Thomas Mudge (1738/9), John Arnold (1783) and many many others.
During their lifetimes they contributed to the upkeep of their Company and its traditions. A number, such as Henry Jones (1663), Charles Gretton (1672), George Graham and William Frodsham (1802), left charitable funds for the Company to administer. These were intended, amongst other objectives, to finance apprenticeships. Training support is still a charitable objective, the priorities being:
- to support the educational work of its Library and Collection
- to support and encourage horological education in general
- to finance (where possible) horological apprenticeships, bursaries and prizes
- to support general appeals for funding within the City of London.
The Company and its charities continue to welcome financial and other support, whether through gifts or bequests.
The Company’s Museum and Educational Trust, which administers the Company’s Collection and Library (the oldest collection specifically of clocks and watches in the world) also welcomes gifts of rare and interesting horological books and ephemera, together with clocks, watches, tools and other pieces of particular relevance and interest.
Many such gifts and bequests have been received since the Library and Collection’s founding, in 1813. Especial generosity in the recent past have included the Hurle-Bath and Hurle-Bradley Bequests, the Beloe Bequest and Mrs Whiteing’s gift. All have made an unique and lasting contribution to the educational value of the Company’s famous museum.
Potential donors are requested to contact The Clerk’s office for advice on the most effective way to carry out their wishes.
Please also remember the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers and its Charities in your Will.
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