Mathew Bradbury, (AKA Bradberry) lived in Bolton from 1820. He is listed variously as a Watch Maker and Clockmaker, and was working from Manor Street, in Little Bolton, in 1821 to 1822, after which he moved to Great Moor Street Great Bolton from 1824 to the 1830’s.
Matthew was born in 1783 in Yorkshire, and living in Wensley, and Leyburn York he became a Clock and Watch maker. Matthew Bradberry is renowned for complex, high-tier horology, including rare auto-changing four-tune musical longcase clocks featuring 16 balanced hammers striking on 8 tuned bells.
On Wednesday 20th June 1804, Mathew took on an apprentice clockmaker, named Robert Boys.
Apprentice Records 20 June 1804
Matthew took on more apprentices in 1805 Charles Blades and in 1806 John Bell for 7 years beginning 30 June 1806, both apprentices were still in Wensley.
In November 1806, Matthew also married Ellen Ascough and started a family.
Whilst Matthew was in Wensley he traded, and also raised his family, finally moving to Bolton by 1820 where the last three of his children were born.
Matthew died in Bolton aged just 49, and was buried in St Anne’s Church in Chapeltown, Turton on 27th February 1832.
Manor Street Little Bolton, meets Bank Street Great Bolton on the bridge over the River Croal.
There is at least one longcase clock by Matthew Bradbury surviving in Belgium.
A Mahogany eight day moon phase longcase by Bradbury of Bolton
The clock dates from 1830’s and would sadly have been one of the last clocks that Matthew made.
The clock has a painted dial and an eight day movement with a strike on a bell, the dial with Arabic, rather than Roman numbers, and a painted rolling moon with nautical scenes. this dates the clock to the period around 1830.
The wide bodied large mahogany case fitted with a swan neck pediment and turned columns, the door is of an unusually short design, typical of the period around 1830.
The Broader Bradberry Horological Lineage, Matthew was part of a larger Yorkshire network of master clockmakers:
- Robert Bradberry of Reeth (his Father, active ~1770s)
- Robert Bradberry of Middleham (his Grandfather)
- Robert Bradberry of Leyburn (his Brother, active ~1825)