How the clocks became known as Grandfather Clocks
We all know the song, or at least we used to when we were children, and it turns out that the story is pretty much true and is why we now call these wonderful clocks, Grandfather Clocks.
It all began in The George Hotel, on Dere Street in the town of Piercebridge, Yorkshire. This charming 16th century coaching inn stands on the old Roman road and is still a wonderful small hotel. The hotel displays a fine collection of many Roman artefacts that have been found in the Tees or dug up nearby but it's most fanous object is the old Grandfather Clock.
Back in the early part of the 19th century, the hotel was managed by two brothers by the name of Jenkins and the famous clock stood in the reception area marking time with great precision. The clock bears the makers name - Thompson of Darlington - who was a well known for the quality of his work and the accuracy of his clocks and watches. This dates the clock to about 200 years old.
The famous floor clock, as they were called at this time, was well know locally because of it's remarkable accuracy - until the day one of the Jenkins brothers passed away. From this day onwards the clock began to run slow. It started to lose a few minutes a day and gradually became worse, eventually losing up to 15 minutes a day.
Some time later the second of the Jenkin's brothers died, at exactly 11:05, but since it was running slow all this time who know when the brother actually died. The new manager of the hotel tried in vain to have it repaired and so there it stood, silent, in the corner of the hotel lobby.
Henry Clay Work a songwriter from Middletown, Connecticut stayed at the George Hotel during a trip to England in 1874. He was told the story of the old clock and he composed the now famous song (dedicated to his sister, Lizzie) which was published in America in 1876. It was a great hit of the day, selling more that one million copies of sheet music and remains Work's most remembered song.
Until the publication of My Grandfather's Clock, these type of clocks were known by various names: floor clocks, upright clocks, longcase clocks, pendulum clocks, coffin clocks etc. After the publication of Henry Work's song the have become known as Grandfather Clocks.
Have a think and see if you can remember and then click the link below to remind yourself of the lyrics to My Grandfather's Clock song.
