Early 18th century longcase clock by John Shepley Circa 1720

John Shepley was the first clockmaker in Hyde and little is known of his early life. He is a well respected maker and was probably working in Hyde from about 1690. The population in Hyde at that time was about 300 so he would struggle to make a living and sometime later moved to Stockport where his later clocks are signed either Johannes or John Shepley.

We know that he died in 1749. 30-hour movement with an outside count wheel striking on a single bell, square brass dial with silvered chapter ring, Roman and Arabic numerals for hours and minutes, subsidiary seconds dial and date aperture, all contained in an oak case, canopy with moulded cornice and square glass flanked by brass capped columns, trunk with quartered columns, box base with raised panel on bracket feet.

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