Reuben Bosworth

Reuben Bosworth (ca.1797 – 26 July 1883) was a watch and clockmaker in Nottingham.[1]

Clock on Lambert's Factory, Talbot Street, Nottingham, by Reuben Bosworth
Clock made ca. 1850 for the signal box at the Upton Road crossing, Southwell, for the Midland Railway

Life

He was born around 1797 in Smisby, Derbyshire. He married late in life in 1856 to Sarah.

He was a watchmaker and clockmaker in Nottingham. He was apprenticed John Whitehurst in Derby, and then moved to Nottingham and succeeded William Hall, taking over his duties in regulating and winding the Nottingham Town Hall clock in 1833.[2] In the financial year 1 September 1842 to 1 September 1843 it was reported that he received the annual salary of £18 18s. 0d (equivalent to £1,869.15 in 2019) for winding up and regulating the Exchange and Town-hall clocks.[3] In 1842 he was employed by the Leicester corporation to illuminate the Exchange clock at Leicester with a single plate of glass, which would be the largest in the East Midlands.[4]

In the Nottingham Review of 15 March 1844, an article appeared praising his work.

The Exchange Clock. We beg to draw the attention of our readers to the superior performance of this time keeper. The clock was made by Mr. Reuben Bosworth….and to such great accuracy has Mr. Bosworth regulated its rate of going, that, from the second of November last to the present time [March 1844] a period of four months, it has not varied half a minute.[5]

He made turret clocks, some of which are still found in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, wall clocks which he sold to the Midland Railway which were used in railway offices and signal boxes, and longcase clocks and watches.

It is suggested that some of his turret clock business was taken over in 1845 by G. & F. Cope.

He died on 26 July 1883 leaving £7,861 3s 9d. (equivalent to £797,580 in 2019)[6] to his wife.[7]

Works

He produced turret clocks for the following buildings:

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
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References
  1. Clock and Watch Makers of Nottinghamshire. Harold H. Mather. Friends of Nottingham Museums. 1979
  2. Records of the Borough of Nottingham. 8 May 1833
  3. "Town of Nottingham. An Abstract of the Treasurer's Accounts". Nottingham Review. England. 3 November 1843. Retrieved 29 October 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. "Notices. Nottingham Friday Morning". Nottingham Review. England. 17 June 1842. Retrieved 29 October 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. "The Exchange Clock". Nottingham Review. England. 15 March 1844. Retrieved 29 October 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  7. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations. 1883
  8. "New clock for Saint Peter's Church, Nottingham". Nottingham Review and General Advertiser for the Midland Counties. England. 15 January 1847. Retrieved 23 July 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. "North Collingham". Nottinghamshire Guardian. Nottingham. 26 July 1867. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
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