Grandfather Clock

Scope and Content

The clock was given to the Borough Polytechnic by Hubert Secretan CBE MA JP, Chair of the Board of Governors, on his retirement.

Administrative / Biographical History

Edward Greatrex was a clock and watch maker who worked at English Market near Dale End in Birmingham from about 1724 to about 1755. He was the son of John, a yeoman of Aston in Derbyshire, and was apprenticed in Birmingham to Peter Brown, clockmaker on 24 June 1713 for 6 years and the fee of £8. Later Edward took his own apprentice – John Walker in 1732.

In 1722 Edward married, in his home town of Ashbourne and the following year a daughter was born. No children are recorded . Edward is known to have maintained theWelsh Cross clock, once situated in the heart of Birmingham.