An eighteenth century clock made in Llanfair Caereinion is returning to its home after being purchased for over £1,000 at auction.

The clock was bought at a fine art, antiques and jewellery auction held by Halls in Shrewsbury on Wednesday, September 20 - and will now be returning to Mid Wales.

The longstanding clock was made by Samuel Roberts in the 1700s. Roberts was a prolific clockmaker from Llanfair Caereinion who produced more than 400 numbered clocks.

This clock, which sold for £1,450 at the Shrewsbury auction, was made in collaboration with Roberts' neighbour, a cabinetmaker and joiner named John Lloyd, with Roberts crafting the mechanism and Lloyd creating the longstanding casing that houses it.

Get in touch

Share your views on this story by sending a letter to the editor. To get in touch email news@countytimes.co.uk, or fill in the form on this section of our website.

Alexander Clement, Halls Fine Art’s senior general valuer, said: “Roberts was a well-documented clockmaker between 1750 and 1780.

“To serve the local community, he established a 'clock club' with customers paying by instalments and entering a lottery for each clock as it was completed.

“Some of the cases were made by Roberts' neighbour, the joiner John Lloyd who, unusually for the period, attached paper labels.”