Memorial to John James Hall in Exeter Cathedral

John James Hall FRAS (11 December 1845 – 15 January 1941) was an eminent

horologist Horology (; related to Latin '; ; , interfix ''-o-'', and suffix ''-logy''), . is the study of the measurement of time. Clocks, watches, clockwork, sundials, hourglasses, clepsydras, timers, time recorders, marine chronometers, and atomic clo ...

and author who restored many early clocks.

Life

John James Hall spent his working life as an employee of the

London and South Western Railway The London and South Western Railway (LSWR, sometimes written L&SWR) was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Originating as the London and Southampton Railway, its network extended to Dorchester and Weymouth, to Salisbury, Exeter ...

from 1865, but on retirement devoted his time to horology. He made over 200 contributions to ''The Horological Journal'', ''

The English Mechanic and World of Science ''The English Mechanic and World of Science'', commonly referred to as ''English Mechanic'', was a popular-science magazine, published weekly from 1865 to 1926, generally consisting of 24 pages. It was aimed at people interested in inventions and ...

'', ''Watch and Clockmaker'' and other journals. His best known accomplishments were the restoration of the fourteenth-century astronomical clocks in

St Mary's Church, Ottery St Mary St Mary's Church is a Grade I listed building, a parish church in the Church of England in Ottery St Mary, Devon. The church is part of "Churches Together in Ottery St Mary" which includes the churches of four other denominations in the town. Hi ...

in 1907 and

Exeter Cathedral Exeter Cathedral, properly known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter in Exeter, is an Anglican cathedral, and the seat of the Bishop of Exeter, in the city of Exeter, Devon, in South West England. The present building was complete by about 140 ...

in 1910. He designed a new clock for Exeter Public Library which was set going in 1931. One of his major areas of study was the life and work of Jacob Lovelace of Exeter. He also published his complete articles in ''Fasces Exonienses''. He was elected a Fellow of the

Royal Astronomical Society (Whatever shines should be observed) , predecessor = , successor = , formation = , founder = , extinction = , merger = , merged = , type = NGO ...

on 10 February 1899. He was also a Fellow of the

British Horological Institute The British Horological Institute (BHI) is the representative body of the horological industry in the United Kingdom. It was founded by a group of clockmakers in 1858, and has its current premises at Upton Hall in Nottinghamshire, which includes ...

, the

Meteorological Society The Royal Meteorological Society is a long-established institution that promotes academic and public engagement in weather and climate science. Fellows of the Society must possess relevant qualifications, but Associate Fellows can be lay enthus ...

, the

National Geographic Society The National Geographic Society (NGS), headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational organizations in the world. Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, and ...

of Washington, and the Societe d’Astronomie et du Physique du Globe, Bruxelles. His ashes were interred in the Syke Chantry in the north transept of

, below the clock he had restored.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hall, John James 1845 births 1941 deaths London and South Western Railway people Fellows of the Royal Astronomical Society Horology English clockmakers