John Alker

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British clockmaker

title: "John Alker" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["english-clockmakers", "people-from-wigan", "1775-births", "1850-deaths"] description: "British clockmaker" topic_path: "people/1770s" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Alker" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary British clockmaker ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox writer"]

FieldValue
nameJohn Alker
birth_date15 April 1775
occupationClock and watch maker
death_dateJuly 1850
birth_placeWigan, Lancashire
years_active1794-1832
death_placeWigan, Lancashire
imageJohn Alker Clock.jpg
captionAlker of Wigan clock c.1794
::

| name = John Alker | birth_date = 15 April 1775 | occupation = Clock and watch maker | period = | spouse = | death_date = July 1850 | pseudonym = | birth_place = Wigan, Lancashire | years_active = 1794-1832 | death_place = Wigan, Lancashire | image = John Alker Clock.jpg | caption = Alker of Wigan clock c.1794 | module =

John Alker (1775–1850) or simply Alker of Wigan, was a long case clock and pocket watch maker and member of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers active in Wigan, Lancashire.

Life and career

John Alker, son of James Alker, was baptised on the 15th of April 1775 at All Saints' Church, Wigan. He was first recorded as a clockmaker in his marriage to Margaret Hickman in 1794. John and Margaret would go on to have six children together, with several also becoming reputed clock and watch makers, before her death of consumption in 1808. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Market_Place_Wigan_-_1860.jpg" caption="Market Place in 1860, depicting the former Alker store in the lower right."] ::

From their storefront on Market Place in central Wigan, John and his family would craft intricate longcase clocks for use in the home and large turret clocks for public spaces. In 1813 he installed one such turret clock at St Wilfrid's Church in Ribchester.

John was described as having a preference for the newer fashions of his time, as shown through his use of painted dials. A number of his clocks survive, and frequently present features of special interest. One of his longcase clocks, dated to around 1830, was featured on Antiques Roadshow and valued between £7,000 and £10,000.

John died at his home in Scholes and was buried on the 14th July 1850 at All Saints' Church, Wigan.

Legacy

John Alker began a legacy of clock and watch manufacturing within his family, spanning over 100 years. The original storefront in Wigan was in operation from at least 1794 to 1860, being run by John and subsequently his sons and extended family. Eventually expanding to a second store in Chorley that was active until the late 1800's.

  • Thomas Alker (1794 - 1847) Son of John Alker. Clockmaker in Wigan.
  • Nicholas Alker (1803 - 1871) Son of John Alker. Watchmaker in Wigan and Chorley.
  • James Alker (1818 - 1889) Son of Thomas Alker. Clockmaker in Wigan and Chorley.
  • John Alker (1819 - 1859) Son of Thomas Alker. Clockmaker in Wigan.
  • Nicholas Alker (b. 1828) Son of Thomas Alker. Watch finisher in Chorley.

Gallery

File:Alker Clock - 1794.png|Dial and hood of clock by John Alker, c.1794. File:John Alker00.jpg|Mahogany longcase clock by John Alker, early 1800's. File:John Alker01.jpg|Example of John Alker's use of painted dials. File:John Alker keywind watch, c.1800.jpg|Signed John Alker pocket watch, early 1800's.

References

References

  1. (15 April 1775). "Wigan Baptisms Register 1754-1778".
  2. (14 July 1850). "Wigan, England, Church of England Burials, 1813-1979".
  3. Hawkes, Arthur J. (1950). "The Clockmakers & Watchmakers of Wigan (1650-1850)".
  4. Davies, Edmund. "Greater Manchester Clocks and Clockmakers". Mayfield Books.
  5. (21 April 1794). "Wigan Marriage Registers 1787-1799".
  6. (9 December 1808). "Wigan Burials 1779-1809".
  7. (1832). "Wigan Election Poll Book".
  8. (1832). "Pigot's Directory".
  9. (1890). "The History of the Parish of Ribchester in the County of Lancaster".
  10. Hawkes, Arthur J.. (1950). "The Clockmakers & Watchmakers of Wigan (1650-1850)".
  11. Hawkes, Arthur J.. (1950). "The Clockmakers & Watchmakers of Wigan (1650-1850)".
  12. (7 December 1860). "The Oldest Establishment in the Neighborhood". Wigan Observer and District Advertiser.
  13. (16 December 1857). "Partnerships Dissolved". Morning Herald (London).
  14. (2 November 1794). "Wigan Baptisms 1779-1799".
  15. (26 December 1847). "Wigan Burials 1847-1848".
  16. (21 August 1803). "Wigan Baptisms Register 1799-1812".
  17. (30 January 1864). "Serious Charges Against a Chorley Pawn-Broker and Another". Preston Herald.
  18. (3 May 1807). "Wigan Baptisms 1799-1812".
  19. (26 December 1889). "England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915".
  20. (7 April 1859). "Wigan Burials Register 1858-1867".
  21. (1 November 1830). "Wigan Baptisms Register 1830-1833".
  22. (1901). "England Census, Lancashire, Chorley, District 22".

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english-clockmakerspeople-from-wigan1775-births1850-deaths