To return to view all Clocks click HERE

Clockmaker/By : Lot Barwise of Cockermouth.

Duration: 8 Day

Circa : 1780

Height : 87.5 inches.

Case :
Mahogany with beautiful 'flame' patterns to hood door and base.
Swan neck pediment with wooden paterae and dentil moulding below hood.
Painted gold leaf panels on midnight blue background below swan neck.
Reeded pillars to hood and trunk (quartered pillar).
Foliate fret panel above long door with wavy top.
Canted corners to base and applied moulding to base and ogee feet.
Width at widest point 19ins (hood).

Dial :
Painted Wilson dial with rolling moon dial featuring seascape and landscape.
Dial 13" x 18" carnation, flowers and plum painted spandrels and central posy.
Central calendar 1-31 sweep hand.
Matching steel hour and minute hands.
Roman numerals.

Maker :
Clock making in Cockermouth was dominated by a few families and above all the Barwise - Mitchell - Metcalf family.

Lot's name does not appear to have been a shortened version of Lancelot. He was baptised Lot and died Lot and all known references to him are as Lot. He was out of apprenticeship in 1747.

Lot Barwise was born in 1726 in Oulton (Cumberland), married Sarah Hodgson in 1747 at Wigton and shortly after moved to Cockermouth, where he died in 1799. The Cumberland Pacquet of 19 November 1799 records his death : 'Thursday last at Cockermouth in an advanced age Mr Lot Barwise, many years an eminent clockmaker in that place'

On Lot's death the clock making business was carried on by his daughter Mary who was born in 1750 and married Robert Mitchell in 1774. Her son, Barwise Mitchell joined her in the business and gradually took over. Mary died in January 1817 and the Carlisle Patriot gave her a fulsome obituary:

At Cockermouth aged 67, Mrs Mary Mitchell, clockmaker. From the operative labours of a mechanical profession in which she was acknowledged a skilful artist, and by which she long supported her family with reputation, this truly valuable women reserved a sufficient portion of her time for the faithful discharge of an arduous train of domestic duties'.

Price : £ 6,950

Guarantee : 12 months