Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Worshipful Company of Clockmakers
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
Large clocks for churches were made by blacksmiths, therefore early clockmakers belonged to the Blacksmiths' Company. A separate Clockmakers Company received their charter in 1631. The Company also has ordinances dating from 1631/2. A prize is given annually to the best horological student.
The Board of Longitude had been established in 1714 by Act of Parliament to award a prize for the reliable judgement of longitude, and John Harrison (with the help of his son William, 1728-1815) completed a number of longitude time keepers and watches to ultimately win the prize.