[102759] Lyme Park : Sir Francis Legh's Clock Collection

Lyme Park, Cheshire.

The National Trust.

Sir Francis Legh's Clock Collection.

 

Eight-day English Longcase Clock in marquetry case.

By Henry Younge, London, circa 1675.

 

Henry Younge was apprenticed in 1659 to Thomas Taylor who had a workshop in The Strand. He became an independent craftsman 13 years later and during his working career trained four apprentices. Younge appears to have moved to Portsmouth in 1689. Here he would have found less competition from other clockmakers and therefore demand for his work would have been greater. He may also have produced navigational instruments in this busy seaport.

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Francis Michael Legh was one of the last children to grow up at Lyme. He was the third son of the Hon Richard Legh who became the 3rd Lord Newton.

 

Francis was an equerry to HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother before becoming Private Secretary to HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon in 1959. He was made Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1968 and remained Treasurer to Princess Margaret until his death in 1984.

 

Throughout his life Sir Francis maintained a passion for horology amassing one of the most important collections of English clocks. The other great interests of his life was Lyme. Even after the estate had been bequeathed to the National Trust, Sir Francis held a deep devotion to the estate as well to those who worked here.

 

In his will Sir Francis generously left his magnificent collection of clocks to the National Trust, stipulating they should be displayed at Lyme for visitors to enjoy. In the intervening years, several other special clocks have been added to the collection.

 

Done