Charles Gretton

His mother was Agnes (Anne), née Atterby, and his father was Charles, a cottager, who held pieces of land and livestock.

Charles Gretton left Claypole for London at the age of 14 to apprentice under Humphrey Downing, a freeman of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths.

[2] Gretton worked during the period which is often called ‘The Golden Age of English Clockmaking,’ when many innovations were created and the trade flourished.

Gretton’s peak production lasted about 25 years, from approximately 1685 until about 1710, when his output dropped significantly.

However, Gretton maintained a strong relationship with the Clockmakers’ Company until the very last years of his life.

Gretton's earliest known extant watch dates to before 1675 and is on display at the British Museum, London.

Gretton's spring clocks were usually in an ebony-veneered or ebonized case with little or no decoration, other than the carrying handle.

Clocks employing this mechanism, but signed by at least one other maker (Hessenius), certainly originated from Gretton's workshop.

Most Gretton spring clocks after about 1685 have a pull quarter repeat mechanism; several complex forms of this have been documented.

[9] Gretton continued his commitment to the Clockmakers’ Company until his late years, when ill health likely prevented his direct participation.

[10] Charles Gretton became very successful in business and had the means to acquire wealth and a number of urban and rural properties.

[12][13] Charles Gretton’s will arranged a fund and the structure to establish and maintain a School for Poor Boys, in Claypole, Lincolnshire.

[14] This charity was financed by the rent on Gretton’s workshop, The Ship, on Fleet Street, which was willed to his son Thomas.

‘Gretton’s Gift,’ another donation to Claypole set out in his will, continued into the early 20th century.

Their son Phillips attended St Paul’s School, London, and Trinity College, Cambridge, attaining his Doctor of Divinity degree at the latter.

Charles Gretton lived the very last years of his life with Ann at the Houghton home in Milk Street, London.

Charles Gretton died on 25 June 1731 and was buried at St Dunstan-in-the-West, Fleet Street, on 5 July 1731.

[17] Besides his beautiful clocks and watches, Charles left considerable wealth, including at least nine properties.

National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors www.nawcc.org The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, London, www.clockmakers.org