James Woolley (clockmaker) explained

James Woolley or James Wolley (ca.1695  - 22 November 1786) was a watch and clockmaker from Codnor, Derbyshire.^[1]

Life

He was born ca 1695, the son of Samuel Woolley and Abigail Pinegar.

He made turret clocks, one of which was installed in the Nottingham Exchange,^[2] which he gifted to the Nottingham Corporation, and in return he was made an honorary burgess of Nottingham.^[3] He also made longcase clocks known to be signed “J Woolley”, brass and silvered face with moon dial c.1780’s.

He died at his house on Codnor Common on 22 November 1786,^[4] a bachelor, and left his fortune to his two nephews.

He signed his clocks "Wolley". Therefore this article should list his name as James Wolley or James Woolley.

Works

Public clocks include:

• Nottingham Exchange 1726, moved to St Nicholas' Church, Nottingham 1830. Now in the Nottingham Industrial Museum.

Notes and References

1. Clock and Watch Makers of Nottinghamshire. Harold H. Mather. Friends of Nottingham Museums. 1979
2. Records of the Borough of Nottingham. 9 May 1726
3. The Date Book of remarkable and memorable events connected with Nottingham and its neighbourhood. John Frost Sutton. Simpkin & Marshall. Nottingham 1852.
4. [Derby Mercury]