Joseph Bishop, Bridport, Circa 1760. A very rare tidal dial clock showing high water at Bridport Quay.

A very rare tidal dial antique longcase clock. This shows high water at 'Bridport Quay', for the last 100 years or so more commonly known as "West Bay", one of the jewels of the Jurassic coast. Tidal or high water clocks are rarer versions of moon-dial clocks, I have never seen one for Bridport Quay before which makes this a super-rare, if not unique item.

Joseph Bishop doesn't seem to have been a prolific maker. There is a brief listing for him in "Dorset Clocks and Clockmakers" (Tribe and Whatmoor) which highlights a clock with high water at 'Bridport Harbour'. I think this may actually be the same clock, the word harbour being used in error. The date given is circa 1750. I would suggest a date a decade or so later than this for the dial features. There is also a listing for john Bishop, Sherborne, a later and more prolific maker who may have been related.

The clock is complete and fully working, all functions including moon and date working correctly. The movement has been thoroughly cleaned and overhauled, new gut lines etc. The dial has been refurbished and is in excellent condition, the moon-disk still retains the original distinctive painted moon faces. The oak case has suffered a bit through age but has good colour/ polish and a charming cottage style with wavy panels to the door and lower panel. The trunk door has been strengthened to keep it flat although there is still a little bit of movement in the old wood, it closes and locks correctly.

The dial is particularly impressive, in typical style for the 1760s. It has a silvered centre with the maker's name engraved, also subsidiary seconds and date inset. The chapter ring is silvered and the corners decorated with ornate spandrels. The arch contains calibration for the moon's age and high water times, the moon faces rotating behind silvered hemispheres engraved with the sun and country scenes.

The movement is very substantially made and has 5 pillars, something normally associated with London clocks or more up-market Southern types.

Overall height is just under 85 inches with the centre finial installed. Fairly compact as they go.