Doreen Haggard (Author) My books December 11, 2011 08:02 AM

I was born Doreen Ann Austen in Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK. 1962
My grandfather William Austen. (descendant of Jane Austen the famous novelist. William married Dorothy Gaydon sometime in the 1920/30 they had 2 children John and Anthony. John being my late father. My grandfather William was taught the clock making trade by the Dorothy's father, this trade was later taught to my father at the age of 9 years old, by his mother Dorothy. During WW11 they worked for Smiths industries along with my father John, making cockpit instruments for the aircraft industry in Basingstoke Hampshire. In the 1964 he Moved to Lee on Solent in Hampshire and started our family jewellery / watchmakers business which closed in 1990 because of my late father’s illness, and he died in June 2004.

DESCENDANTS of a famous Barnstaple clock making family travelled half way around the world to trace their roots.

Over the years the family name became synonymous with good-quality time pieces.
Pop star Michael Jackson owned a John Gaydon clock and Frederick Gaydon, one of the five founding brothers, went on to do clock maintenance at Hampton Court under the orders of Queen Victoria. Gaydon wall clock sold for more than $35,000 in America. “The Gaydon’s had an illustrious history in the trade and the clocks they produced are now very valuable to collectors.
Henry Martin Gaydon, who went on to form Birch and Gaydon in Fenchurch Street in London was a master of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers and also supplied watches to most of the admiralty in the First World War.
“John Gaydon also provided clocks to all of the stations on the London to South West train line and later designed turret clocks for many of the churches in North Devon.

They were the sons, grandsons and great grandsons of two brothers, Alexander and Henry Gaydon, born in Swimbridge in the 1790s.
They became clock makers to the Queen, Watchmakers to the Admiralty, served as Master of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers founded in 1631 by Royal Charter and much more. Gaydon clock makers number more than 20 across the 1800s.
John Gaydon of 99 High Street, Barnstaple was one of the central characters in this extended family.
He made numerous church clocks for the parish churches of North Devon; a well-known one is at Swimbridge Parish Church which was donated by members of the Gaydon family.
While I have a wealth of information, I am still looking for more and wonder if the readers of the Journal know of other churches or public buildings that might have a Gaydon clock?
I would be delighted to hear from and correspond with anyone with information on the Gaydon clock makers or on clocks that the Gaydon’s made.
Edwin Gaydon’s household included two servants in 1881 and he employed 1 man and 1 boy; George Lock from Barnstaple, Devon, a journeyman watchmaker, was boarding with the family and two of Edwin’s sons were assistants. Around this period a Gaydon clock was built which is now in Reg Harris's home: Reg has kindly sent a photo showing this clock; he says 'It dates to c.1885. Has a good quality fusee movement (which I’ve had cleaned) and it runs fine'.
By 1891 one of Edwin’s sons, Ernest, had married and was living in Ealing, working as a watch & clock maker.
In 1901, at the age of 70, Edwin continued his business. A daughter Maude, aged 33, was working as his assistant. In the three censuses from 1881 to 1901 Lydia Sweet was a family servant.
The 1909/10 Valuation, which took place in August 1913, describes no. 102 as ‘cement faced from first floor to eaves with tiled roof’, set back 4’ 6” from the road. It had an extension at the back, wood sheds and a 2 storey workshops and wood outhouse. The owner was Edwin Gaydon ‘now deceased’, Miss Maude Gaydon and W H Mills (William Henry Mills lived at no. 103) were executors. Edwin’s death was registered in Brentford in the first quarter of 1913.
So, was the 1907 advert claiming the watchmakers business had been running for over 300 years correct? Helen Hickman has sent details of the Gaydon family and its 300 year claim.
Following the death of Edwin Gaydon, in the 1920/1 directory E & M Gaydon, watchmakers, are recorded at 102; there is no reference to 102 in a 1928 directory. By 1933 George Venus ran his fried fish shop from no. 102.

No. 102 was occupied by watchmakers by 1839 and then until at least 1920: James Upjohn & Son, watchmakers & jewellers 1839 – 1851; Edwin Gaydon 1861 – 1920; an advert for E Gaydon from 1907 describes the business as ‘Established as a Watch Makers’ over 300 Years’ and mentions ‘many noble and distinguished patrons’.
The 1861 census shows Edwin Gaydon and Henry Gaydon, each with a young family, sharing no. 102, and both watchmakers. They were born in Swimbridge, Devon and judging by the ages of their children had lived in Brentford since the mid-1850s.
By 1871 Edwin’s family had expanded and Henry was living in Richmond. An 1874 directory includes ‘Henry & Edwin Gaydon, watchmakers’ in Brentford so presumably the brothers worked together.
( i never become a watch maker but i did become an Author)