ohn Sanderson was born in 1671 and was the son of blacksmith Robert Sanderson who worked at Tiffenthwaite Farm (near Wigton). After his father had died John lived in the Great House at Highmoor with his aunt and uncle before living and working as a clockmaker in Tiffinthwaite by 1690. It is beleived that John Sanderson learned his trade by serving his apprenticeship under John Ogden at Bowbridge. He married local Quaker girl Elizabeth Pearson in 1691. He was the founder member of what has become known as The Wigton School of Clockmaking.

he wonderfully primitive 30-hour longcase clock illustrated here was made by John Sanderson of Wigton in Cumbria from around around 1698. It is typical 'Wigton School ' - with the dial centre being deeply engraved with the religious verse :- ' Remember Man Die thou must ' , 'cAnd after that to judgement Just '. It has a heavily built brass lantern type movement which is in an amazing original/complete and sleepy condition. It is housed in a very interesting primitive pegged oak case which has a back-splat. The long narrow trunk door with 'D' mould is held via two Blacksmith's iron hinges and retains its original oak knob and turnbuckle. The hood with no mask retains its original bubbled glass and opens via two further iron Blacksmith's hinges. The door is held in place via a primitve iron latch. There are side windows which are filled in with oak. However on close inspection, It appears that the intended glass may never have been fitted. The movement sits on two blocks - a typical arrangement to other early proto-type cases from rural areas which I have seen. It is amazing that such a crude looking case has survived for so long - through the passage of time.