Forged in Fire: The Early Clocks of England by Keith Scobie-Youngs

2023 Ward Francillon Time Symposium

Hosted by the Antiquarian Horological Society, USA
Chapter

Keith presents three of the earliest clocks in England: the clocks at Salisbury Cathedral (1386), Wells Cathedral (1392), and the clock at St. Mary's Rye (1561) and discuss the methods of construction and what links these three clocks.

Keith studied Horology at the School of Jewelry and
Silversmithing and following graduation in 1984, he worked for six years at Public Clocks in London. In 1990 he established the Cumbria Clock Company Ltd with his wife, Lynn, which is situated in the small village of Dacre in the Lake District National Park. The Company is responsible for the annual maintenance of over 1,000 church and public clocks situated throughout the UK and has undertaken conservation projects to some of country’s most prestigious church and public clocks.

Keith’s experience includes working on the country’s oldest clock at Salisbury Cathedral, the Astronomical Clock at Hampton Court Palace, as well as major projects at Canterbury, Durham, Hereford, Gloucester, Worcester, Truro, and Manchester Cathedrals. Other commissions include the Westminster Clock, better known as “Big Ben,” and the Royal Liver Building, Liverpool. Keith is a Court Renter Warden of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, London, Director of the Antiquarian Horological Society, Director of the British Watch and Clockmakers Guild, a
Fellow of the British Horological Institute, and an ICON Accredited Conservator Restorer and ICON Mentor.