Joseph Ellicock

Joseph Ellicock

1842-1909

One of the leading clock and watch makers in Bourne during the 19th century was Joseph Ellicock who is best remembered for his work on the new Town Hall clock in 1882, a joint project between himself and Thomas Pearce, clock maker, of North Street.

The timepiece they provided was a two-dial eight-day pendulum turret clock striking the hours and quarters and made by Thwaite's & Reed, a distinguished firm of clockmakers of Clerkenwell, London. The two men began work on the installation in October that year and finished in time for Christmas, the cost of £85 being met by donations and public subscriptions.

Joseph Ellicock was also well known in the town as a chorister at the Abbey Church where he sang bass and often appeared on stage in amateur productions of oratorios and musical concerts, and was a leading freemason.

He was born in 1832 at Leicester where he began his career as an apprentice jeweller and silversmith, subsequently moving to Bourne where he established his own business as watchmaker and jeweller at premises in West Street, later moving to new premises in South Street, trading at both locations for a total of thirty years. In 1879, he survived financial difficulties when his business went into liquidation with liabilities of £800 but he fought back and re-established his clientele and his reputation.

In September 1908, he was forced to give up work because of failing health and decided to move back to Leicester, his business being taken over by Edward Pearce, son of his former partner on the Town Hall clock project.

During his time in Bourne, he was a member of the church choir for over forty years and on leaving the town he was presented with a diamond ring by members of the congregation and an ivory-handled walking stick with an inscribed gold band by the vicar, the choirmaster and choir, a mark of the esteem in which he had been held. He had also joined the Hereward Lodge of Freemasons as a young man, remaining active in all lodge affairs and eventually becoming a Past Grand Master.

Joseph Ellicock was also a keen part-time soldier, serving as a member of the Bourne and Billingborough 15th Lincolnshire Rifle Volunteers, later H Company, 2nd Volunteer Battalion, the Lincolnshire Regiment, forerunner of the Territorial Army of today. He attained the rank of corporal and gained a reputation as a crack shot, winning many competitions along with the late Sergeant William Hall, in which the unit participated at both local and national level. In May 1868, for instance, he qualified to represent Bourne in the competition for the Queen's prize at Wimbledon shooting over distances of 200, 500 and 600 yards and in later competitions he also competed at the Bisley meetings, once missing the coveted prize by only a narrow margin. When he eventually tendered his resignation, he received a letter of thanks for his service with the company from the commanding officer, Captain E Smith, and it became a lasting pleasure to show this to his friends.

Although he never sought a prominent role in the work of the town, Joseph Ellicock was usually active in many areas, notably as a committee member and official timekeeper for the annual Whitsuntide sports then held at the Abbey Lawn, and he was also secretary, later chairman, of the Bourne branch of the Independent Foresters' Friendly Society (Court Rose of England). He also served for ten years as the deputy registrar for births and deaths in the Bourne sub-district but gave up the post in 1906.

Ironically, although a staunch chorister and worshipper at the Abbey Church, his wife and family attended the Baptist Church in West Street where all of his seven children were Sunday School scholars and some subsequently became teachers.

His retirement to a house in West Street, Leicester did not prove beneficial and early in 1909 his health worsened and he took to his bed where he died a month later, on Sunday 7th February, but his body was brought back to Bourne for the funeral which took place the following Wednesday.

The coffin reached Bourne by the 1.57 pm train from Leicester and was taken straight to the Abbey Church for the funeral, a grand occasion as befitting a man who made his mark in the town, with a coffin of polished oak with brass handles and a simple inscription. The first part was a choral service held at the Abbey Church and as the funeral cortege entered, the choir chanted the opening sentences of William Croft's funeral setting followed by his favourite hymn, Rock of Ages and Nunc Dimittis.

The vicar, the Rev Hugh Mansfield, officiated at the church service and later at the graveside, both being attended by a large number of relatives, friends and residents from the town headed by a deputation from the Hereward Lodge of Freemasons. There were three large floral tributes, one from family members, another from the Hereward Lodge and one from the vicar himself which he placed on the coffin as it was brought into the church.

Joseph Ellicock was survived by his wife, the former Mary Jane Banks, daughter of William Banks, of Bourne, who he had married at St Mary's Church, Stoke Newington, London, on 22nd April 1867, a son and six daughters.