Meet the team – Francesca McCafferty Find out about the people behind the scenes at Clocktime. “I have always been fascinated by history, art and crafts,” says Francesca McCafferty, Curator of the John C Taylor Collection. “My background is in Fine Art and collections care. While studying Fine Art at Aberystwyth University, in Wales, I developed an appreciation of craftsmanship. I particularly enjoyed carrying out artist research and learning about the different techniques and methods they used. It is extremely rewarding to learn new ways of creating and feel that immense sense of achievement when completing a painting or craft piece. We so often take for granted our hands and the skills we use to create. “After graduating from university, I volunteered for the National Trust at Eyam Hall in Derbyshire as a Conservation Assistant. This was my first taste of caring for a collection. I was then employed as a Collections Assistant at Snowshill Manor in Gloucestershire and made the move down to the Cotswolds before then being promoted there to Collections & House Officer for Wade Collection, which is housed in Snowshill Manor. “At that time, the Wade horology collection contained 178 items including 60 clocks and over 50 pocket watches. It also included some tavern clocks, Black Forest wall clocks, turret clocks, English bracket and long cases and even Japanese bracket and pillar clocks. I was responsible for monitoring and maintaining the entire collection. I also had the pleasure of liaising with the specialist clock conservator, Dr Mike Flannery FBHI, who carried out the servicing and conservation of the collection. “I became one of the Curators of The John C Taylor Collection in 2022. Based at Arragon Mooar on the Isle of Man, I have the privilege of working with Dr Taylor and his collection of early British clocks, watches and scientific instruments, as well as his wider collection of art, geological specimens and furniture. “I assist Carl Albrigt, the other Curator of The John C Taylor Collection, with the day-to-day running and care of the collection. We carry out regular winding, monitoring, cleaning and inventory checks. “I also work closely with Dr Kristin Leith, Senior Curator of Clocktime digital museum and the rest of the Clocktime team to create, prepare and upload content for the Clocktime website and social media channels. As Clocktime is an educational resource, I take particular care to provide a rich assortment of information and visuals to ensure the website is engaging, meets all styles of learning and gives visitors a unique insight into each of the pieces featured. “I also work with our Digital Media Producer, Glenn Whorrall, to prepare video content for presentation on the website. In his explanation videos, Dr Taylor takes the viewer ‘up close and personal’ to each of the clocks and watches, exploring their history, inner workings and demonstrating each piece working. It is important to us that the Clocktime® Digital Museum not only provides information on the timepieces but also brings to life the stories of the makers, people and important horological moments in history related to the exhibits. “At the launch event of the Clocktime Digital Museum at the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE) in London on 12 March 2024, eight of the timepieces featured on the website were on display, including the John Harrison Wooden Regulator, dated 1726. I helped to carefully pack each object for transport to the RAE, updated their condition reports and assisted with setting up the display for the day. “Over the past two years, I have thoroughly enjoyed delving into the world of horology as one of the Curators of The John C Taylor Collection. I feel very privileged to work with and look after these historical clocks and watches. It is amazing to see them still running and keeping accurate time some 300 to 400 years after their original creation! I also enjoy learning and sharing the history and stories of each of these pieces and caring for them so that future generations can continue to both learn from and enjoy them. “I hope that the Clocktime Digital Museum will inspire more people to appreciate the art, craft and skills of makers, and I am proud that we can provide such wide access to these wonderful, unique, irreplaceable masterpieces.”
