Bothamleys Clock

For many years Bothamleys (opposite the present Marks and Spencer store, in the premises now occupied by Timpson's key cutters and Thornton's chocolate shop) had a clock hung from the wall of this building. It had been in its present position for about sixty years and was still in working order when it was taken down in about 1927 when they gave up and sold off their stock.

The clock was due to be sold or scrapped but it was hoped that it would be spared and the suggestion was made that the Corporation might purchase it and erect it in the Cattle Market, Bargate Green or the Dock where it would continue a useful public service. The timepiece was operated from inside the premises, the works being operated with a rod.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOSTON ITEMS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

Here are a few Boston items that are held in the British Museum in London.

Above and below: Boston Banknotes.

  

There have been a lot of watchmakers in Boston over the years. They put watch paper in the cases of the watches they sold, here are a few of their designs.

Below: A Trade card of  Bellamy, of the Peacock Inn (later called the Peacock and Royal).

Below: Tokens from Wilkinson & Wright & Co Boston and the Grand Sluice Iron Works.

And finally, 3 views of the Stump.

Boston Clockmaker

　

The Bothamley family made clocks for at least four generations in and around Boston.

William Bothamley.

The earliest clockmaking member was William Bothamley who was born about 1715. William married Mary Parkinson in 1745 and their children included one named after Mary's maiden name, Parkinson Bothamley, born in 1751, and who was to carry on the next generation of clockmaking.
William died in April 1759 aged forty four, his death left a young family of several children, young Parkinson Bothamley being only eight years old.

Above: Bothamleys shop on the extreme right.

Parkinson Bothamley.

Parkinson was married in 1771 to Elizabeth Wade, at which time he would have been twenty years old. He was first recorded as a clockmaker in the trade directory at Boston for 1791, after this we hear of him in1811 when he is established in the High Street. Parkinson was still listed as trading in 1823 (then aged seventy two), but by 1826 the business was already in the name of his son, Benjamin. Parkinson lived on till 1845, when he was ninety four years old.

Above: a Bothamley clock face.

Benjamin Bothamley.

Benjamin Bothamley was born in 1799 and his name first seems to have headed the Boston business, now located in the Market Place, in 1826, when he would have been twenty seven years old. He was married twice and had ten children in all, amongst them a son born in 1832, Henry William, who was later to carry on the Boston business. Benjamin's name appears in the trades directories till 1856. He died in 1860.

Above: a Bothamley wall clock.

Henry William Bothamley.

From 1861 Henry William ran the shop. His son, Alfred, who was born in 1860 remained a bachelor and the business closed with his death in 1929.

Above: Bothamleys shop in the Market Place, on the same site as the first picture.