Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 24, 2026

John Benson (clockmaker)

John Benson was an English clockmaker who lived and worked in Whitehaven, mainly on brass dial eight-day clocks with rolling moons for the upper market. Many have centre calendar work, simple tidal indicators, music, quarter-chiming and/or astronomical functions. He noted about twenty, including one with quarter chimes and music, most in red walnut or mahogany cases. He married in 1750, moved to Belfast in 1753, then back to Whitehaven in 1755, where he died in 1798.

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John Benson was an English clockmaker who lived and worked in Whitehaven, mainly on brass dial eight-day clocks with rolling moons for the upper market. Many have centre calendar work, simple tidal indicators, music, quarter-chiming and/or astronomical functions. He noted about twenty, including one with quarter chimes and music, most in red walnut or mahogany cases.1 He married in 1750, moved to Belfast in 1753, then back to Whitehaven in 1755, where he died in 1798.2

According to the Regent Antiques website, "Possibly his most famous work is in the main hall of 10 Downing Street, the residence of the British Prime Minister. It's reported that the chimes annoyed Winston Churchill enough that he had the musical part turned off."3

References

References

  1. "Antique Long Case Mahogany Clocks". Allan Smith Antique Clocks. Archived from the original on 12 April 2018.
  2. "Allan Smith Antique Clocks - LCMAH363". Allan Smith Antique Clocks. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  3. "John Benson". Regent Antiques. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2022.