Many biographies have been written of successful men who began life under the poorest conditions and while this sketch, which consists of more facts than fiction, might appear like repeating an old story ...

Heddon Hall (but not as we know it!)

By any chance was 'the clock te gan forever' a skeletal clock? If so, I can certainly point you as to the whereabouts. My grandfather was a lover of skeletal clocks....and 2 of Isaac's pieces are within our family.

One of the clocks originally came from Wylam Church. My Grandfather had it agreed with the church for £200 back in the 80s, however the church decided to auction it instead and I believe he ended up paying more like £1500 at Christies auction rooms. This clock has a globe in the centre and rotates as the day goes by.....no doubt to the turn of the earth as I'm sure Isaac wouldn't have it any other way.
 
The other clock is older....it was viewed a while ago by some clock experts who were doing a talk at the church across from my grandfather. When they viewed it they said the movement that clock uses pre-dates when that escapement was thought to have been coined. It was my grandfather's brother's and originally it came in bits....in a shoe box. It was put back together and ran well but recently started locking up....so it's currently getting tuned by the same guys who did the talk at the church and I believe it's running well. Should have it back soon.

Wylam road sign. Photo by A Curtis (2009).

Now there's Jackson, his owld mate, was another up te date,
And for that man , aa'll try te fix a line,
Well aall admit he's clever, made a clock te gan for ever,
Built in a wall at Wylam, Canny Wylam on the Tyne.