“This tiny, immensely attractive object has great sentimental value to the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers because it was made by David Ramsay, who was appointed by Charles I to be the company’s first master when it was founded in 1631.
Ramsay was an extraordinary man. Born in Scotland, he was called back from France – where he probably learned his clockmaking skills – to join the court of James VI when he became James I of England.
Appointed Page of the Bedchamber to the King, Ramsay considered himself a grandee of some influence, so he was, apparently, rather put-out to ever be thought of as merely a watchmaker.
Watchmaking was one of many activities that Ramsay pursued. This watch – made by Ramsay in the shape of a six-pointed star and embellished with scenes from Bible stories – is particularly useful in explaining the clockmaker’s art in London.
People tend to think of clockmakers as little old men in leather aprons sitting at desks and making every last tiny piece of every object they sold. But that wasn’t the case.
From the 16th century when clock- and watchmaking arrived in England, the clockmaker was the finisher who brought together parts from other small industry specialists, such as wheel-cutters, frame-makers, dial-makers and so no.
Ramsay was something of a polymath. He took out a huge series of patents and was said to have devised the first steam vacuum pump to supply London with water from the Thames.
It has also been claimed that he invented a submarine that sailed successfully down the
river, off Westminster, although I don’t imagine he could have been underwater for very long.
In addition, there are stories about his interest in turning base metals into gold, as well as his adventures in treasure hunting. On one famous occasion, he and some friends took divining rods into Westminster Abbey in search of buried goods, only to scare themselves into thinking they had awoken ghosts haunting the site.
This curious man is surrounded by a tapestry of stories and achievements, which probably explains why the company’s early manuscripts show that he very rarely turned up for clockmaking activities.
By the 1640s, of course, the civil war saw the Stuart courtiers in big trouble, and Ramsay doesn’t appear in any records until after the conflict is over. But after the war, he throws himself on the mercy of the company and starts turning up to meetings quite regularly because he had run out of money and lost influence at court.”
Interview by John Holt
Ramsay was an extraordinary man. Born in Scotland, he was called back from France – where he probably learned his clockmaking skills – to join the court of James VI when he became James I of England.
Appointed Page of the Bedchamber to the King, Ramsay considered himself a grandee of some influence, so he was, apparently, rather put-out to ever be thought of as merely a watchmaker.
Watchmaking was one of many activities that Ramsay pursued. This watch – made by Ramsay in the shape of a six-pointed star and embellished with scenes from Bible stories – is particularly useful in explaining the clockmaker’s art in London.
People tend to think of clockmakers as little old men in leather aprons sitting at desks and making every last tiny piece of every object they sold. But that wasn’t the case.
From the 16th century when clock- and watchmaking arrived in England, the clockmaker was the finisher who brought together parts from other small industry specialists, such as wheel-cutters, frame-makers, dial-makers and so no.
Ramsay was something of a polymath. He took out a huge series of patents and was said to have devised the first steam vacuum pump to supply London with water from the Thames.
It has also been claimed that he invented a submarine that sailed successfully down the
river, off Westminster, although I don’t imagine he could have been underwater for very long.
In addition, there are stories about his interest in turning base metals into gold, as well as his adventures in treasure hunting. On one famous occasion, he and some friends took divining rods into Westminster Abbey in search of buried goods, only to scare themselves into thinking they had awoken ghosts haunting the site.
This curious man is surrounded by a tapestry of stories and achievements, which probably explains why the company’s early manuscripts show that he very rarely turned up for clockmaking activities.
By the 1640s, of course, the civil war saw the Stuart courtiers in big trouble, and Ramsay doesn’t appear in any records until after the conflict is over. But after the war, he throws himself on the mercy of the company and starts turning up to meetings quite regularly because he had run out of money and lost influence at court.”
Interview by John Holt