He joined the Clockmaker’s Company as a freeman on September 29, 1671, in very good company – Joseph Knibb, Daniel Quare and Thomas Tompion also gained their freedom of the company in the same year – and practised his trade for 52 years.
His work and that of his son is comprehensively documented in the book Joseph and Thomas Windmills: Clock and Watch Makers 1671-1737 by JA Neale published in 1999.
William and Mary longcase clock from the workshop of Joseph Windmills – £17,000 at Byrne’s.
This handsome longcase, c.1695, with walnut and marquetry case with lenticle to the trunk houses an eight-day, six-pillar movement striking on a bell.
It is signed to both the movement and the 11in (27cm) brass dial with subsidiary seconds and date aperture.
The clock came for sale at Byrne’s (21% buyer’s premium) in Chester on September 9 with an estimate of £8000-12,000 and performed a little better, selling at £17,000.
