Great-Grandfather’s Gold Watch

Isn’t it exciting when you find something you have only read about? My PA and I did just that when we visited the London Clockmakers’ Museum and found my Great Grandfather’s gold watch.

At the time the little museum, started in 1841, was housed next to Guildhall, where the Clockmakers’ Guild met. Last October the collection was given a new home at the Science Museum in Kensington. The following is from the Science Museum’s website:

This remarkable Collection was assembled by the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, a famous London Livery Company founded in 1631, and includes, amongst other items, some 600 watches, 80 clocks and 25 marine timekeepers. Spanning the period from the 15^th century to the present day, the Collection tells the story of ‘the Clockmakers of London’ and charts their history through the years. http://www.clockmaker.co.uk

Stanley Watkins’father, Sylvester, was a watch maker, as was his father before him. Alexander Watkins made a gold watch for the 1851 Great Exhibition and it is displayed in its red silk-lined box in the Museum. It took us quite a time to find it as there were hundreds of beautiful time pieces on display, but what a thrill when we did.

This photo is of another watch by Alexander Watkins which I discovered on the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors website. The shop was at 67 Strand as inscribed on the back. And there are three  of Alexander’s watches in the British Museum.

Alexander’s eldest son William Augustus was also a talented watchmaker who owned 67 Strand. Unfortunately I don’t think my Grandpa Sylvester Watkins was a very good business man, and he finally joined Stan in New York where he died.