Caleb Pitt, Frome. Circa 1780. A good tidal dial longcase clock showing high water at Bristol key.
A good antique tidal 8-day longcase clock, by Caleb Pitt, Frome, dating to around 1780.
A very good quality and elegant Georgian clock. The dial and movement are heavily constructed, noticeably more so than most, the dial centre has deep and detailed engraving, a very attractive and distinctive feature. The dial arch has its original painted moon-phase disk and calibration to show high water at "Bristol Key". The case is of figured mahogany, a good 'mid-toned' colour. Nice proportions and gilt decoration to the swan necks.
The clock is complete and fully working. The movement has been properly cleaned and serviced. Moon/ high water and date features working correctly.
Overall height is 90 inches to finial top.
The Pitt family were noted clockmakers working in Frome through several generations from the second half of the 18th century and well into the 19th century. Caleb Pitt was the earliest, from the style of his clocks he appears to have been working from around the 1760s. This clock, from its features, dates to around 1780.
During the 1780s Frome was a thriving market town and a hub of the British woollen cloth industry. This clock was possibly originally made for a rich and successful merchant in the town. As with many towns in the general area, businesses in Frome would have relied on the port at Bristol for commerce/ shipping. At that time Bristol dock was 'tidal', directly linked the the Severn estuary, only later (19th century) was it modified to have a 'floating harbour' (as now). It would therefore have been useful for the original owner to know the times of high water at Bristol although it would also have been seen as more up-market/ better quality to have a tidal feature.