G. & F. Cope Explained

G. & F. Cope Ltd was a clockmaking company based in Nottingham, England from 1845 to 1984.

History

Two brothers, George and Francis Cope founded the company in 1845. They took over the turret clock business of Reuben Bosworth. (Reuben Bosworth continued to manufacture turret and domestic clocks).

Their initial factory was in Holden Street and they had offices on Gregory Street^[1] then Alfreton Road^[2] but in 1937 they moved to Portland Road. In 1945 they moved again to Prospect Place in Lenton, where the company remained until it was absorbed by Smith of Derby Group.

The company was responsible for most of the public clocks in Nottingham, and also many further afield. As innovative manufacturers, the firm produced chronometers for the Admiralty as well as fine tower clocks and chimes.

Owners

• George and Francis Cope 1845 – 1899
• William Cope 1899 – 1922
• William W Cope 1922 –
• Richard Cope and David Cope

Notable Cope Clocks

• St. Laurence's Church, Norwell
• St Swithun's Church, Woodborough 1854 (installed 1856)
• St Peter's Church, Nottingham 1850s
• Holy Cross Church, Ossington 1860s
• St Mary's Church, Ilkeston 1864
• All Saints' Church, Cotgrave, 1865
• Holy Cross Church, Epperstone 1865
• St Michael's Church, Laxton 1865
• St Mary's Church, Eastwood 1866
• St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Shelford 1880
• Nottingham Exchange 1881, moved to St Helen's Church, Trowell in 1927
• St Peter's Church, Nottingham 1881^[3]
• St Andrew's Church, Eakring, 1887
• St Mary's Church, Plumtree 1889 (removed in 2009)
• St. Andrew's Church, Langar
• St Mary's Church, Keyworth
• St. Wilfrid's Church, Kirkby-in-Ashfield 1911
• All Saints' Church, Mattersey 1921
• All Saints' Church, Rempstone 1920s
  • St Luke's Church, Shireoaks Nottingham Council House 1926 (the loudest clock bell in the United Kingdom)^[4]
• Lever House, Blackfriars, London
• St. Christopher's Church, Sneinton
• St Mary's Church, Nottingham 1936^[5] (the first all electric winding and chiming clock produced by the company)
• Church of St Mary the Virgin and All Souls, Bulwell 1949^[6]
• Lewis and Grundy Clock, Victoria Street, Nottingham 1950

Notes and References

1. Kelly’s Directory of the Watch & Clock Trades 1880
2. Kelly's Directory of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, 1881
3. News: . The new clock of St Peter’s, Nottingham . Nottingham Journal . England . 15 September 1881 . 23 July 2017 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
4. The Lenton Listener. Issue 17, 1982
5. News: . St Mary’s New Clock . Nottingham Evening Post . England . 24 April 1936 . 25 July 2017 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
6. News: . Bulwell Church Clock. Lighting on June 15th . Nottingham Evening Post . England . 12 May 1949 . 24 July 2017 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .