Time to come home
The Welshpool museum has taken delivery of a long case clock made by John Tibbott, a Newtown clock-maker, thanks to the generosity of its owner, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Don Krieger of the Medical Service Corps of the US Army, and his wife, Carleen Krieger, from Texas.
Lieutenant Colonel Krieger first contacted the museum in the middle of November 2017 following a National Museum Wales recommendation.
Although Powysland already had a number of grandfather clocks, it did not have one made by Tibbott, who was born in Llanfair Caereinion and settled in Newtown in c.1777 as a clock and watch maker as well as a farmer, remaining there for 30 years. He moved to Llanbrynmair, where he died in 1820 and is buried in the local churchyard.
It is believed that he invented the free pendulum but it is thought that the Royal Society of Arts willingly or unwillingly refuted his claim, when he brought it to their attention in 1816.
The biggest stumbling block now was how to bring the clock across the Atlantic, but a successful grant application was made to the Welsh Government through the Museums, Archives and Libraries Division; and the Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales.
Then Art Works Exhibition Services Limited (https://www.arthandling.co.uk) from Abergavenny were appointed to sort out the packing, insurance and travel arrangements from Texas to Montgomeryshire, and now the clock has arrived at its new home in Welshpool, where it has been placed on display on the museum’s first floor (pictured) together with the other long case clocks from Montgomeryshire.
It was originally taken to the USA by Lieutenant Colonel Krieger’s father (a US Air Force Officer) who had collected a number of clocks and other items while he was stationed at Lakenheath RAF/USAF Base in Bury St Edmonds.
When he returned to the USA in 1965, he took over 50 clocks with him including the John Tibbott clock, which was passed to his son in 2002.
“My wife and I are now retired and since this is, in my humble opinion, a valuable piece from a historic perspective, we want only that it be returned as part of the Welsh heritage and be cared for appropriately,” said Lieutenant Colonel Krieger.
The museum said in a statement that it is “most grateful to Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Don Krieger and his wife Carleen Krieger for their most generous donation and to the Welsh Government through the Museums, Archives and Libraries Division; and the Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales for the grant that enabled the museum to acquire the clock and finally to Art Works Exhibition Services Limited for facilitating the packing and move of the clock”.
The museum is open weekdays, except Wednesday from 11am-1pm and from 2pm-5pm, and on Saturdays from 11am-2pm.
For further information, contact the curator on 01938 554656 or powysland@powys.gov.uk.
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