THE owner of a grandfather clock thought to have been made in the North-East in the 19th century needs a hand in tracing the timepiece’s forgotten past.
Louis Hristovski, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, bought the seven-and-a-half-feet tall clock from a friend about ten years ago, who told him it was made by JJ Welch, of Hetton-le-Hole, Scotland.
However, experts believe it may have been the work of John James Welch, a clockmaker active in Hetton-le-Hole, County Durham, between 1877 and 1884.
Mr Welch, whose surname is occasionally spelled ‘Welsh’, is also known to have worked in Seaham Harbour in 1864.
The clock is in good working order and it is thought it could be worth up to £5,000.
Anyone who can help is asked to email Mr Hristovski at: ureachme@shaw.ca
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