Grandfather’s Clock

Grandfather’s Clock, 1876

by Henry Clay Work (1832-1884)

who also composed “Marching through Georgia”.  

Song performed as part of the Secular Concert in 1879, 5 years after the Burgh Hall opened.

Many people knew this song from Children’s Favourites on BBC Radio every Saturday morning. It was very famous.

Its origins lie with the George Hotel Yorkshire. It was originally known as The Bridge Inn. Parts of the building date to 17^th Century and it was known as a coaching inn. Legendary Dick Turpin is said to have stayed there.

Because coaches needed to leave on time, one of The George’s most important possessions was an accurate timepiece. There is a sundial on the outside of the hotel, and in its lobby is a longcase clock made by James Thompson who

died in 1825. It was noted for Its good timekeeping.

In mid-Victorian times, The George was run by the Jenkins brothers. The clock may have come into the family’s possession on the day the elder brother was born. Immediately after he died, it was noted how the longcase clock lost its accuracy. The second brother continued winding the clock at precisely 11.05 am each day, and on the day he died, the clock stopped, never to go again.

In 1874, Henry Clay Work, a popular American songwriter from Connecticut, heard the story and wrote a version of it from the clock owner’s grandson’s perspective into a song which he released in 1876. It began:

My grandfather’s clock was too large for the shelf;

So it stood ninety years on the floor….

But it stopped short – never to go again

When the old man died

To this day longcase clocks are known as grandfather clocks.

Research by David Dorren. Text taken from The Northern Echo