An oak cased thirty-hour longcase clock The movement and dial by Charles Gretton, London, circa 1697, the case early to mid 18th century The four finned pillar outside countwheel bell striking two-handed movement with anchor escapement regulated by seconds pendulum, the 11 inch square brass dial with 'triple crown' motif engraved calendar aperture to the matted centre within applied silvered Roman numeral chapter ring fleur-de-lys half markers minute outer track and signed Charles Gretton, London fecit to lower margin, with fine scroll pierced steel hands and winged cherub mask and scroll cast spandrels to angles, now in a case with ogee moulded cornice and scroll pieced frieze over glazed dial aperture flanked by three quarter columns, the sides with quarter columns set against bargeboards at the rear, the trunk with concave throat over moulded rectangular door, on plinth base with moulded two-tier skirt, 201cm (79ins) high. The life and work of Charles Gretton is thoroughly documented in Radage, Dennis; Warner, Meinen and Radage, Laila CHARLES GRETTON, THROUGH THE GOLDEN AGE in which the current lot is recorded and comprehensively illustrated as 'LC32' 0n pages 178-81. Charles Gretton was born in Clayplole, Lincolnshire in 1648 and by 1662 he had moved to London entering into an eight year apprenticeship under Humphrey Downing on the 30th June of that year (turned over from Lionell Wythe). Humphrey Downing died in 1666 but it is thought that Gretton continued his apprenticeship under his widow, Cordelia, gaining his freedom of the Clockmakers Company in 1672 and se-up business in Fleet Street. In 1677 Gretton married Mary Phillips and established himself at the sign of the 'The Ship' in Fleet Street (either number 174 or 175 next to Fetter Lane). Gretton was appointed an Assistant of the Clockmaker's Company in 1889 and then Warden in 1697; the same year he signed the 'oath of allegiance'. In 1700 Charles Gretton served as Master as well marrying his second wife Lucy Uffman (his first wife Mary died in 1694). In 1701 he put £50 forward to the Clockmakers' Company in order to establish a trust to assist the orphans of deceased members and was nominated to serve again as Master in 1705/06. Lucy, his second wife died before 1711 as this is the year that Charles Gretton married his third wife, Dorethea Wilson shortly after which he moved to his newly acquired second premises at two Chancery Lane. At this time his premises at 'The Ship', Fleet Street was passed onto the management of his nephew, Thomas Moore who paid taxes on the building until 1723. In 1716 Charles and Dorothea moved again to Chancery Lane where they remained until Dorothea's death in 1727. By this time Charles Gretton had retired from active clockmaking and went to go and live with his daughter, Ann, in Milk Street where he remained until his death in 1731. During his carreer Charles Gretton He took on many apprentices including Henry Sully (Freed April 1705) and Joseph Antram (Freed October 1706) both of whom went on to become famous clockmakers in their own right. By the time of his death and internment at St. Dunstan's in the West Gretton had become a wealthy and highly respected figure within the City of London as well as the clockmaking community. His Will mentions no less than nine properties as well as £1,300 deposited in the Bank of England contributing the £2,600 monetary component of his legacy.