Looking through Instagram last Sunday I stumbled across a thread which I felt was worth looking into. Investigative journalism has been talked about at Rye News and it’s an area of the paper we intend to expand upon, so donning my Sherlock Holmes deerstalker I decided to do a little digging.
In a nutshell, a lady from Wales had come across a photograph of an unknown female in Victorian dress and on the reverse of an accompanying postcard was the inscription ‘John Masters, 36 Hope, Rye, England.’
John Neve Masters was not only a master watchmaker and jeweller but also an editor and published author writing three books between 1921 and 1925. He was also the editor and author of his own magazine ‘Hope’
John Masters was born in Tenterden on 13 March 1846, and following in his father’s (John Master Snr) footsteps and after completing his education at Tudor Hall, Hawkhurst he commenced his horological apprenticeship in June 1863 with William Whitehead in Sevenoaks, Kent.
In 1869 he took over the business of CF Lewnes in Rye, they sold clocks and English and imported watches as well as jewellery. He was then living at Hope House, High Street, Rye. By 1885 he had moved his business to 95 High Street and had married Kate Fuller who ran the jewellery outlet operation. Masters by this point had been recognised as a master of his craft and “a credited watch supplier to Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle”
In 1893 he was elected mayor of Rye and in 1900 he and his family moved to Craigholme House in Hastings then returning to Rye to Clifton House, East Street in 1910. He passed away on April 11 1928 at Cannon House, East Street, Rye aged 82.
After a little more ‘digging’ I discovered the website www.loveantiques.com and a lovely pocket watch being sold by Time to Admire Ltd caught my eye. It was The “Coastguard Watch” Open-faced Silver Pocket Watch by John Neve Masters, 1895.
Described as a “scarce premium quality Victorian open-faced silver pocket watch by master watchmaker, jeweller and author, John Neve Masters” The description goes on to confirm “Hallmarked Birmingham 1895, this scarce “Coastguard Watch” has a signed white enamel face with Roman numerals and “Made in England” bordering the subsidiary seconds hand dial. The watch retains its original gold hands, and the signed movement has a compensated balance and ruby end stone.
The case makers name is William Ehrhardt, (“We”), of Time Works, Barr Street, Hockley, Birmingham and the case, movement, and dust cap serial numbers are the same “258858.” Diameter 55mm, weight 155g.
A stunning timepiece available to purchase now and with a detailed local provenance and surely a potential exhibit for any local’s collection.
I contacted Mark Sharman at Time to Admire Ltd who very kindly agreed to allow me to reproduce the images in this article. If the watch is of interest to you it is currently available to purchase on a buy it now basis at £325 from specialist dealers Time to Admire Ltd at https://www.loveantiques.com
Good luck with this, what a great Christmas gift this would make for someone deserving of something a little different this year but time is ticking so be quick. Conversly, why not buy it and donate it to Rye Museum for generations to enjoy, it’s an important piece of Rye’s history which should stay in Rye.
As for me, I will go back onto Instagram and see what else there is which might interest you.
Image Credits: Time to admire Ltd , Time to admire Ltd .