Join us for a museum talk with Collections Manager Alex Bond and horologist Ross Alcock to learn more about what makes a Tompion tick.
Alex will introduce the history of timekeeping, before delving into the work of Thomas Tompion and how this clock came into the museum collection.
Ross will give an insight into the technical workings of the clock, showing you metal, mechanisms and more. Thomas Tompion is described as the ‘father of British clockmaking’, he was a supreme craftsman who made clocks for Buckingham Palace and Greenwich Observatory. There are three Tompion clocks in the Portland Collection, and one is currently on display as part of Unseen Treasures.
This talk is part of Meet + Make, a series of public engagement events running alongside our contemporary exhibition Work Life: Life’s Work.
Alex Bond
Alex Bond is the Collections Manager of the Welbeck Estate. She is a professional curator with over 15 years of experience and a specialism in horological history. Alex is a keen researcher and social historian and enjoys sharing her knowledge with others.
Ross Alcock
Ross Alcock is an award-winning horologist, specialising in the conservation and restoration of fine antique clocks and domestic timepieces. He is a professional member of the British Horological Institute (BHI) and works from his Harley Foundation Studio on the Welbeck Estate.
