OLD CLOCKMAKER9 : PAST CRAFTSMEN. SOME ARTIFICERS OP OUR TOWN. [BY TKMPUS KDAX RKKUM.J Perhaps iu the later decadrs in particular the interest iu olii clocks has generally deepened, and their value in the commercial sense has proportionately increased. Many clocks of comparative antiquity are very beautiful in design, and, in calling up the long past, we are reminded that grandfather's clocks were often bequeathed by will to special favourites by thoughtful testators. I t is quite true to say that, especially in rural districts, a reliable clock has been for centuries one of the most necessary and valued pieces of household furnishings, and iu the olden days, as now, it was realised that on account of the length of the pendulum and its general construction, the " Grandfather's" clock was the most reliable timekeeper. In mansion and cottage alike the old clock is still revered. In the year of grace 1916, in the middle of the most fiendish war ever fought, Mr Arthur Hayden asked Mr C. Leo Keid, of Gem Buildiugs, Blackett-street, Newcastle-ou-Tyue, to assist him iu compiling a list of north-country clockmakers for his then forthcoming book, entitled, " Chats on old Clocks." Mr Reid, it appears, was able to give the enthusiastic author the names, and, iu most cases, approximate dates, of specimens of the work of about fifty of the old craftsmen. In bis book Mr Hayden names Mr Reid as a contri- butor, and siuce its publication the well-known Newcastle jeweller has had many other names of old-time northern clockmakers given to him, thus rendering available 271 names. He says the difficulty is to find the date at which these old makers worked, as many of their productions bear no indicative figures. Thomas Bewick, as an apprentice, engraved clock dials. The occupation made his bauds as hard as those of a blacksmith, and almost disgusted him with engraving. To revive memories which, by reason of their associations, cannot with deeeucy be relegated to the limbs of forgotten things, may prove interesting, and here, " upon this bank and shoal of time," let us summon the past, and recall vanished forms and traits of good citizenship. Clocks are enshrined iu the nation's literature. Prince Henry, in' King Henry IV., exclaims : " Why, Percy, I killed myself, and saw thee dead." Sir John falstaff makes answer : " Didst thou '? Lord ! Lord ! how this world is g.von to lying. I grant you, I was down and out of breath; and so was he ; but we rose both at an instant, and fought a long hour by Shrewsbury's clock. ' Drydeu's translation' of Virgil alone is sufficient to immortalise his memory, irrespective of the freedom, grace, strength and melody of his versification. I u " CEdipus," he writes in line imagery :— "Of no distemper, of no blaHt he dieil. Bat fell Hkej Ku'amn f^uit th>it mellowed lonif ; Kven wondered at. lieciuae he dropt no noon--r. Fe.te p< e'tu'd to wind h m up for fourscore years ; Yet feebly ran he on ten winters more : Til!, like a clork worn oat with eatintr time, The wheels of weaiy life at. Inst stood still." Dr. Johnson said of " The Traveller, or a Prospect of Society," by Oliver Goldsmith, " that there had not been so fine a poem since Pope's time," and " The Deserted Village," iu poiut of description and pathos is certainly above all praise. Therein the poet, historian and essayist—the friend of Johnson, Reynolds and Burke—familiarises the cottager's clock iu sweet, rustic simplicity :— ** The whitewashed w.tlls, the nicely sanded floor, The vavni.h d cloek that elielc'd behind the door, The chest cont.riv'd a double debt to pay, A bed ut liiv'ht, ft dust of drawers by day." By nature, William Cuwper was unfit for the rough paths of life. He, however, was not only a voluminous writer but a first-rate poet. Iu addition to translating Homer, which he did with more accuracy than Pope, if with less finish, he wrote " The Task "—the best of all his poems—aud translated Madame Guyon's spiritual songs. I u " Winter Evening " occur the following lines :— » " Anil Katerfelto. with his hair on end At his own wonder-, w nd-rinir for bis bread, 'Tis p'easant, throti -h the lo^p-holes of retreat, To teep at such a world—to see the stir Of the pe-.t itabel, and u>i to feel the crowd. FRED. SMITH, 23, Horse Market, Barnard Castle, Gent's and Ladies Outfitter, General Draper, House Furnisher. BEFORE SELECTING YOUR CALL AND INSPECT OF STOCK OF Blouses, Fancy Linens, Gloves, Scarves, Dresses, Party Dresses, Blankets, Down Quilts, Sheets, etc. Our Stock includes many Choice Articles, at Prices that are below the actual cost of production to-day. A VISIT WILL REPAY YOU. Ladies Costumes a specialty. EVERY GARMENT GUARANTEED. A Large and Varied Stock of TWEEDS, GABADINES, Etc., to choose from. Prices from 2/6 to 19/11 per Yard. SERGES, Gent's Blue Suit, 84/- The Best Lino Offered Today. Worth 105/-. Our Famous Tweed Suits, 59 /6. Made-to-Measure. Our Guarantee goes with this range,. While fancy, Runt, the Hru ike the finjjer of a eloc' l v tt circuit, and is still at Jioin One of the leading clockmakers at Barnard Castle, in his day, was Mr Michael Johnson, who occupied tlsc shop and premises for many years inhabited by the late .Mr Edward Tilburu. Mr Foster is the present occupant. Specimens of Mr Johnson's handicraft are fctill to be found iu the town, one clock being iu the possession of Mr J. R. Arrowsmith, of " Teesdale House," who is a descendant on the side of his grandmother of this famous clockmaker. The late ML- Michael Johnson was the grandfather, on his mother's side, of Mr Michael Johnson Dixon, J.P., of Woodliigh Mr Johnson was known far aud wide, and the following extract from a letter to the writer of this sketch, from Mr Edward Wooler, solicitor. Darlington, the well-known aud esteemed antiquarian, will show the class of work which Mr Johnson produced: "Referring to our conversation, yesterday, can you very kindly tell me anything about Michael Johnson clockmaker at Barnard Castle, as a friend of mine has a clock of his which will be about one hundred years old. I t is a thirty hour clock aud strikes, with a beautifully painted dial, of which I enclose you a rough sketel At the top there are two ladies engaged iu needlework in a garden, and in the four corners there are four sporting dogs. I should imagine Michael Johnson to have been sporting man." 'Mr Johnson was a well-to-do, leading tradesman, and his rich possessions in gold and silver had evidently aroused the cupidity of certain " minions of the moon," for, on the night of February 9th, 1836, his shor near the Market Cross, was broken into, and property oi great value stolen. The place had been deliberately ransacked, the robbers being unheard by tbe inmates of the house, " T h Barnard Castle Association" took the matter up. Thirty guineas reward was offered for the discovery of the burglars, but they were never apprehended, aud none of the goods were ever recovered. Somewhere between 1S18 and 1823, Mr Thomas Humphreys was elected a member of " The Barnard Castle Association." The immortal Dickens has rendered memorable the words, " Master Humphreys' Clock," by adopt- ing them as the title of a work of fiction. Perhaps this opportunity should be seized to put upon record tin: exact premises occupied by Humphreys, the clockmaker, at the time of the vibit to Barnard C'astlu of Dickens, some- where about the year 1836. Without doubt the best read man in Teesdale at that time, and for many years after, was the late Mr Anthony Bainbridge Nicholson, of Cotherstoue, who served his apprenticeship as a painter with the late Mr T. Thwaites, appurtenaut to the shop now occupied by Mr James Wrathall, who is also a paiuter and decorater, immediately west of the Market Cross. Mr Nicholson never followed his trade, he being a gentleman of independent means, and of ardent literary pursuits. He left it upon asser- vation that at the time of the great novelist's visit the late Thomas Humphreys occupied the shop now just again tenanted, at the Amen Coruer. Mr Humphreys afterwards removed to the premises right opposite the old King's Head Hotel, now the property of Mr G. H. Liufoot, who deals in music and musical instruments. Dickens, of course, without question, stayed at the King's Head inn, and commended the ale of the hostelry to Newman Noggs. Clocks made by Humphreys are common in Teesdale to-day. It may be added that the late Mr John Moukhouse, postmaster of this town, confirmed the statement of Mr Nicholson, in his lifetime. Succeeding Mr Michael Johnson, iu the same shop, was Mr Thomas Wilsou, who, as a clock- maker, was widely known. Many of his tall, well-finished clocks are still to be found iu the town. The cases are mostly of mahogany, and are exceedingly well made and artistically designed. The dial of one now in the Market- place shows his name, aud at each of the four corners is an excellent representation of a toy spaniel, while at the top is the picture of quaintly-dressed maiden carrying a water jar, a rugged piece of fencing being shown in the back-ground. There is a clock in Raby Castle, and also oue at Barnard Castle, made by " Dgden, Darling- ton." Mr Wooler says there were two Ogdens, clockmakers, in Darlington, Bernard Oglen and John Ogden, though it would seem that their clock dials do not give the respective christened name of either — at least in those of their manufacture Which have so far come under observation. The oaken case of a grandfather's clock that ticked for long, long, years at the Shaws, Wostwick, then occupied by Christopher—popularly kuown iu the farming community as " Kitty "—Rowlandson, is still extant. The original works of the clock were supplanted by first-class modern mechanism, by the present owner, who had the flue wood-work, already richly inlaid, carved from drawings of what was at the time described as the oldest rereilos in Eugland. It was iu Brough Church, Westmoreland. Considerable pride is taken iu old clocks in the dales, and in Barnard Castle as elsewhere there are numerous ornate specimens of the work of past artificers. Mr Thwaites was a line and honoured member of the profession, and carried on business at the foot of the Bank. Perhaps one of the most famous clock and watchmakers who ever resided in this town was .Mr William Porthouse, who was chosen a chajielwarden iu 1778. As a man who did credit to the town of his adoption, Mr Port- house is, iudeed well worthy of mention. He was the owner of the promises which Air Eric Richard Hauby Holmes, solicitor, announces for sale in this day's issue of this journal, comprising two shops 35, aud 37, Market- place with cottages and extensive space iu the rear. The property is still known as '• Porthouse's Yard," aud here he set up machinery of his own invention for the spinning of flax, which was moved by horse- power. He was the first person also to introduce the thrashing-machine into Teesdale; and at his field, near Bedekirk, people collected in scores on a market-day to see corn thrashed by this novel method. Mr Porthouse's ingenuity aud enterprise demanded a wider area than Barnard Castle could then afford, aud, in 1784, he removed to Darlington. Here, iu Mr John Kendrew, he met with a kindred spirit: the two men entered into partnership, and after a while brought out a series of engines for preparing and spinning flax. With the assistance of Mr Backhouse, the banker, they obtained a royal patent, and conducted their business on an extensive scale for that day. John Marshall, of Leeds—the fpunder of the firm of the same name, which became of world-wide celebrity—came over to Darling- ton, and bargained with the patentees at so much a spindle. But we hasteu on. The two, however, ultimately separated, Kendrew moving to Haugbton-le-Skerue, and Porthouse to Coatham-Mundeville; and at these two places the first two English spinners of flax by machinery received line and tow from the hecklers in the neighbourhood, which they manufactured into yarn, at a stated charge for each bundle of sixty thousand yards. A t one time nearly all the ground in Darlington upon which Keudrew-street and Albion-street now stand, belonged to Mr Kendrew. He died at Haughton iu 1800: Mr Porthouse died a few years afterwards. Mr C. Leo Reid asks : " May I appeal to your readers to send me the names, and, if possible, dates aud detailed descriptions, of any old clocks in their possession, made by North Country makers ? I will be glad to send any reader iuterestecf a copy of the list I have completed, as I find from numerous enquiries that there is a growing interest in this subject." Meanwhile, " after life's fitful fever they sleep well"—the veterans who with marvellous industry and much artistic skill laboured incessantly in their honourable calling, still hoping "for a muse of fire that would ascend the brightest heaven of invention." BARNARD CASTLE SANITARY STEAM LAUNDRY. PROPRIETOR - - A. STEELE. Is the only Steam Laundry in Barnard Castle and District HIGH-CLASS WORK IN ALL ITS BRANCHES. SPECIAL ATTENTION GIVEN TO HOUSEHOLD WORK. Vans Collect and Deliver in Home District. STEAM LAUNDRY WORKS : NEWGATE, BARNARDjCASTLE. CLARKSON WE ARE NO HARKER'S SPACE. ED FOR THE QUALITY AND TURN-OUT OF OUR IDJE^IIEID F R U I T S . SEASON'S FRUITS are just to hand, and OUR STOCKS are of the CHOICEST QUALITY. THE XMAS CAKE ZlF^&^ii VALENCIA AND SEEDLESS RAISINS, PRUNES AND FIGS. Fruit Cleaned by, Machinery on the Premises. CLARKSON HARK EE, M.P.S. Chemist and Grocer, Barnard Castle (late Joshua Burn and Son), YOU C A N G E T A SMART SUIT Made to Measure At a Reasonable Price, Style, Fit and Quality Guaranteed, ~; v; J "l T- ^J^]E^Q,TJISS% PRACTICAL TAILOR AND GENEiUL T'RA.PER, 5 & 7, Horse Market, Barnard Carlle. W. SMITH & COMPANY, Low Mill Foundry, Barnard Castle. Manufacturers of RANGES, OVENS, GRATES, etc. tsole Makers of the HOT-AIR RANGE on an improved principle (Patent). OVENS alone if required, all fitted with Steel Bodies. Also Glendinning and other various makes of Ranges. PORTABLE BOILERS, with Steel Bodies, from 6 Gallons upwards, will last three times as long as Portable Boilers with cast bodies. Large Stock of SPOUTING always kept on hand. Watering Troughs, Pallisading, Railing, Gates, etc. Heating by Hot Water. Estimates given free. • Baths, Lavatories, etc. WASHING AND WRINGING MACHINE MAKERS. We keep a large variety of Enamelled Slate Jambs, Register Grates, Interiors, Shams, Tiles for Register Grates and Hearths. Tile Slabs for Interiors always on hand, and we invite all Contractors and users to call and see our Stock. ESTIMATES GIVEN FOR ALL CLASSES OF IRON WORK. BICYCLES from £9 10s. Od. Second-hand Machines, Lady's & Gent's, from £3. 1921 Raleigh Motor Cycle & Sidecar, £184 16s. list, offered at £165. 5/6 H.P. Twin. Sparing Frame. 1920 5/6 H.P. Rudge and Sidecar, £90. 8 H.R New Imperial and Sidecar, £115. Fast and Powerful. Sparkbrook 2| H.P., 2 Speed (new), £60. Also B.S.A., New Hudson and Auto Wheel. Tyres, Belts and Spares at low prices. t3" SECOND-HAND PRAMS from 25/-. «sf Call and see the New TAN SAD FOLDING PRAM, on Springs. WATSON, Teje^a 1 ® Cycle Depot, Barnard Castle. The First and Original Brand, introduced in 1866. Beware uf Imitations. Use CORRY'S Original TOBACCO LICE POWDER or Cattle, Pou ltry and all Animals. No risk from Chill a s b y Washing. Recommended by Ministry of Agriculture a n d J Fisheries. Sold by your Chemist, Is. Oil. nnd 3*. RINGWORM AND FOOT ROT OINTMENT I a speciality ; : lb. size Is. Bi. , Write for list. CORRY & Co., Ltd., Shad Thames, LONDON, S.E. 1. J. FORSYTH, PAINTER, DECORATOR, SIGN-WRITER, PAPER HANGER, Ac. WM. TARN, AUCTIONEER AND VALUER. Sales of all descriptions undertaken. Prompt Settlements. HUNDERTHWAITE, ROMALDKIKK. Estimates Free for all classes of work. , New Season's Wallpapers from 8jd. per Roll. Paints, 1/- per pound. LOCAL AGENT FOR RENOVAR; THE SANITARY DISTEMPER. WINDOWS CLEANED, any height. PRIVATE ADDRESS : WOOD STREET, BARNARD CASTLE. TEESDALE: IN BALTT IN SONG, BY C, V. NICHoi7 % PRESIDENT or TUB DARLINGTA* ' NATURALISTS' Fi s i h Q. « III. But we have wandered a\vav f and its river, aud charms e n ?H return. Richard Watson's " P„ »i -* Teesdale" are full of the nr"^ ._ its charms. In his daily walt'^ mine at Egleshope he feels tl ' him ; aud in his tour in L\xnti\ 1 needs stay a moment at Wemnje Nettlepot the great boulder in $\JY wins from him a song all to itself Say, curious stone, what bronok,.. Why dost thou on thi. pl, c e U I fane wouM know. TOr > And how thy base doth keen tho. When thou'rt so very wid> , t * And strait below f Had use of speech been (riven the. What stramrc things thou could'!,'. » i Of aires past! °°°" I «t»]l,, | J But words from thee I list in vain Bo as I am, I rnu.t remain ' In mystery lest. The same poet sing, to us, &nd in particular, of the Fairy Doll ne » J and the bogles of Unthauk: ' 1 My youthful days, dear Xancv Seem like a pleasant dream When arm in arm we rambled By the rippling silvery stream We gathered nuts and sloei lo,i And wild flowers you loted waO By shady bower and rock, loi. Up in the Fairy Dell. When yon were at the town Ss«™ I met you oft at night. ™* Lest bogles of Cnthank, Sancj Hhou d put you in a fright- Tour fears fled whsn I met vta. As you'll remember well. We often kissed and promised To meet in Fairy Dell. But this begins to sound « reminiscent, and but a step further] to Surtees' beautiful but plaintitj] " Langleydale "— '•As I down Raby Park did past I heurd a fair maid w*ep andwii] The chiefest of her song it was Farewell the sweets of Langlev D^l " The bonny mavis cheers hit love. \ The throstleoock sings in the sles. I But I must never hope to rove Withiu sweet Langley Dale anis. " The wild-rose blushes in the brae, The primrose shows its blossomin But I must bid adieu for aye To all the joys of Lengley Dale. "The days of mirth and peace are L Youth's golden locks to silver tsnl Each northern flow'ret droops itjlss'l By Marwood Chase and Lauglerl Farewell! The ruins in _ speak of the days aud doings this, gone past, but penaiveness is nrt the poet Mason, when iu lines • have been suggested by scenes iali argues aud rejoices iu that uow.a when they have fallen into decaj.i form a natural aud necessart manifold charms and beauties o! "TIMB'd GRADUAL TOtJOH" IS To Time the praise is due ; his gradtul: Has moulder'd into beauty mai:y atn Which, when it frown'a with alt itst: WHS only terrible ; and many a Urn Monastic, which, when decked aith-i Berv'd but to feed some pamper'.i At£ And awe the unlettered vulgar Gesel Whoe'er thou art, that listqp'st '-'•'•'' And feel'tt thy soul assent to whit las Happy art thou if thou csn'st call tti»J Such scenes as these; where Nstureudi Have work'd congenial; where a ecittWl Of KM . | ;• oaks darken thy si'lelo While, tubbing thro' their bracne- n.**! Dart their white heads and glitter ttflV* More happy stiU, if one superior rck Bear on its brow the shiver'd f't -."--'3*| Of some old Norman fortress ; happsffc ™ Ah. then most happy, if thy vaeM* Wash, with the crystal coolness I Home Mould'iing Abbev's ivy rsi The fci*** CHAPTER C THE TKKSDALE OF f.0W>*| Mason's view is a very suorta* of the old ruins, aud it is witb « 1 that the Rev. Blackburn Clark* visualises the stirring times in'!' the Castle ruled, iu his "8 Barnard " ; aud the glow au lines " Call back the past " a have auy knowledge of the Las" Barnard, of Bowes, of Streatl*] stone, of Morthain aud of Scanji old ancestral hallg of Toesdale Egglestoue Abbey aud of the churches of Staiudroji, Romaldkirk. CALL BACK THE Pij* Csll back the Past,—th» mi.k?^ Call with the warder's buglf Call back the gay and gallant tit-. With falcon, hawk, or reduce' Call back the steel-clad files of JJJ That thundered at the Castle-*"' Call back the days of chivalry. The jousts that Marwood Ou.-'^ Call back the robust revelry ^ That echoed from these wall." Callback the nobles naughta»«"j^ Call back the Past,-the bonnts* When in the Baron's stately B» Both high and low at one rep"*v Came trooping at the steward t" Call back the Past,-the cruel P>* Call back the noisome donjon-^ Par from the sound of bugle" | Where, slumbering in his lastly, The hapless captive might be t° ^ Chained to the hard, unpityi^ - His body still with fetters bt""^^! His soul where comes not chai" When, for revenge or lust of P''Jj' The gallant knight and baro»^|J Wrote in God's Book in one »»» Deeds that would fill the earth Black as it is with sin and vf""*^ Then let it rest-that cruel Ps<£ Closed like the passage to tni J^fJ Where, safe from War's '^"^s, The refugee might kneel, an» ^ Thanks for deliverance am"- In Egliston's dim-lighted . And what endures in 1 « rd - I J_0ne; £\ Not the proud Baron hei u^ :S , | Kot the brave men who «» „„«*' Their battles old King , The tilt and tournament ai ^1 1 he song and laugh have ^es"' 1 The Power, and Pride. »»° As'twere intotheir P't 01 ' afl Look not too closely °° fi ^fe<,/| Gaze through tbe bahnj " ^ t»" Let shadows hide where » Aud bid Imiginstion w» o( TrO* Its figures with the » e 'P .•eJI* l O Which Fancy's woof n w rlB« li<« ^ That each true form M r 0 . Radiant amid the poW" n ( r, ***** A very beautiful w a 5 ^ ^ erected in the P* 1 ^^^^^^.. Printed and Published1 M'.. 0gB the " Teesdale MC C J \ b e J registered Offices Market-place, WgjV^ Wednesday, ^ . t be Moat Wpwhipt I „ BAIOATE, BARKARD i Wort «* RRL *4 ? u t l n H W principle* r a*nd, Foroe, *ad Lift Pi „, rHrie m, Incandescent LJ J ' l ^SeholdIronmon B eryJ •tf^ft^eB, Portable BoileJ L-.TM ores* « ^ B " iien »oc» to Rxiy pi oantrj. * ^tended 8o. DEKTAL SORCERY) M JOHN wmd PU1ABB NOTH NEW ADDBI a 0 B 8 B M A R J HOgRB: 9»"»- *° 7 TmTT suae . SPSNCsER (Lata A . B . 8IBSO! ids »t The Temparnnce Comd Middleton -in-Tee8dftl| |RY TBTJBSDAY, from 2-lf "WAIiKER 'SJ larnard Castle Mari] 48. lank. |Prices given for Rags, Bona |L Brass, Lead, Copper, bber, Hare and Rabbit Bkl laTtBlWaW ova 40 J. WF.ATHAJ. Painter and Dec< It, Market Place, lar| (Opposite the fciafket PAPER.—A Largo aud ' Wall Papers now on SEE OUR WINDOW ' and Painters' Matarlj Hnatca ffWen tor all 01 UNOS Tl A N D REPAIR! H. LINF UC WAREHOUSE, 9, Mj BARNARD CAST ROUTS rs 300 RATS I killed wtf Absolutely! Fascinating Saves Poul i i/vT Chemist. rr-MAKtS A CL *• 1W E Y ' Chemist, BarnaJ Chemist, Middleti — • • •... ~, >DEH= il 8h "clnR »6d Genes] *ht„B J^P 'i'Kd and doJ 0 8 *>d Plough Fittings] «»»ed Prio. L U t e o f _Aj>pHeatlen 1 HUmeg. ESTABLISHED 18/S REQUIRE! L ,0 » can o f f l c « with arel P£ tab?£rB nd Upo ° bol ° 8 l P- 0 0 1 **«*Ue aoaeJ Plato Kngll. £50 r 8 p a ' ed ore XvvrJl Mlddl «1 Q / % A/ N D I N ( * DEPA] P ^ P xf 6 K S E NTAJ TO 4/6