John Benson (clockmaker)
Encyclopedia
John Benson was a famous English
clock maker who worked and lived in Whitehaven
. He became a highly skilled and much respected clockmaker
, and his work was mainly in brass dial 8 day clocks with rolling moons for the upper market. Many have centre calendar work and simple rise/fall, ebb/flow, tidal indicators, and include clocks with music, quarter -chiming and astronomical indications. About twenty clocks have been noted by him including one with quarter chimes and music, all of fine quality, often in superior red walnut or mahogany cases.
Benson was married in 1750 and died in 1798.
His work can be seen in the main hall of 10 Downing Street
the residence of The Prime Minister
where its chimes irritated Winston Churchill
so much that he had the musical machinery turned off.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
clock maker who worked and lived in Whitehaven
Whitehaven
Whitehaven is a small town and port on the coast of Cumbria, England, which lies equidistant between the county's two largest settlements, Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness, and is served by the Cumbrian Coast Line and the A595 road...
. He became a highly skilled and much respected clockmaker
Clockmaker
A clockmaker is an artisan who makes and repairs clocks. Since almost all clocks are now factory-made, most modern clockmakers only repair clocks. Modern clockmakers may be employed by jewellers, antique shops, and places devoted strictly to repairing clocks and watches...
, and his work was mainly in brass dial 8 day clocks with rolling moons for the upper market. Many have centre calendar work and simple rise/fall, ebb/flow, tidal indicators, and include clocks with music, quarter -chiming and astronomical indications. About twenty clocks have been noted by him including one with quarter chimes and music, all of fine quality, often in superior red walnut or mahogany cases.
Benson was married in 1750 and died in 1798.
His work can be seen in the main hall of 10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street, colloquially known in the United Kingdom as "Number 10", is the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, who is now always the Prime Minister....
the residence of The Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
where its chimes irritated Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
so much that he had the musical machinery turned off.