A William III ebonised thirty-hour longcase clock with 10.25 inch dial and passing strike John Michell, Chardstock, circa 1695 The substantial five finned and latched pillar countwheel bell striking twin-handed movement with plates measuring 7.5 by 5 inches and anchor escapement regulated by seconds pendulum, the top of the frontplate with a second smaller bell and hammer sounding a single blow on the half hour, the 10.25 inch square brass dial with concentric ring-turned decoration to the matted centre within applied Roman numeral chapter ring with stylised wheatear half hour markers, Arabic five minutes within the outer minute track and signed John Michell, Chardstock Fecit to lower margin, with pierced sculpted steel hands and winged cherub head and scroll cast spandrels to angles divided by sunflower and foliate bud engraved decoration to margins between, in a case with generous ogee cornice and tulip centred fretwork frieze over Solomonic twist turned three quarter columns flanking the fized glaxed dial aperture and rectangular side windows, the trunk with convex throat over rectangular door centred with a brass-framed lenticle and applied with twin vertical rectangular raised panels, on plinth base with cavetto top mouldings and stepped skirt, (case with restoration), 208cm (82ins) high. John Michell of Chardstock is recorded in Loomes, Brian Clockmakers of Britain 1286-1700 as believed to have been born in 1669 and married Elizabeth Markes in 1687. He worked in Chardstock from at least 1687 until his death in 1733 when he was succeeded by his son-in-law Thomas Drayton. Loomes notes a number of lantern clocks by him including an unusual hybrid example similar to those by Walter Archer. The current clock is particularly well made for a provincial thirty hour longcase with generous plates, latched pillars and passing half hour strike on a second bell. The plated construction of the movement also appears to differ from Michells other known work hence may have been a special order or perhaps designed to show-off his abilities.