The 'Crosthwaite' Clock, which adorns the Robertstown Grand Canal Hotel, has just being repaired. The Clockmakers have looked up the name 'Crosthwaite' in their reference books and find that there was a clock maker named John Crosthwaite who was working in Dublin in the period 1760 - 1800.
There is no record of when he became an apprentice or a master clockmaker, or when he died, so he may have been working both before and after these dates. He was obviously a good clockmaker, and he also designed a new type of 'pendulum' which was supported by steel knife edges on diamond plates and had a description of this published in 1788.
This would have been for a verge escapement type of clock which was still in fashion at this time, but needed improving as it was difficult to regulate. The Clockmakers have taken these facts from G.H. Baillie's 'Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World' published in 1929, which is looked upon as the greatest authority on clockmakers.
The very fine cast iron dial is unusual in the fact that the maker's name is actually cast into the dial, usually this would have been painted or gold leafed on in the same way as the hour numbers.
Unfortunately, the original clock movement has been removed from the building at some time in the past so we will never know what type of pendulum he used on this particular clock.
Grand Canal Hotel,
Robertstown, Naas, Co. Kildare.
Phone: 045-870005 Fax: 045-870005
E-mail: bargetour@tinet.ie or robertstown@tinet.ie