Blue Plaque for "extraordinary clockmaker"

Thursday 01 November 2018

The Bailiff will unveil a Blue Plaque dedicated to the legendary Guernsey clockmaker, Nicolas Blondel, at his former home today.

Mr Blondel was chosen as the recipient of Guernsey's ninth Blue Plaque because of his work.

Records show that by 1727 he was living in Cornet Street, across the road from the Martel Maides auction house, and originally opened a metal working business. Then, in 1728, he married Jersey girl Elizabeth Ste. Croix.

About this time a French clockmaker, Jean Poppelston arrived in Guernsey and taught Mr Blondel the skill of clock making. During the course of the next forty-five years Mr Blondel produced about three hundred clocks, some of them numbered and some of them numbered and dated.

The Channel Islands first established clock maker.

He was the first established clock maker in the Channel Islands and he made a huge variety of clocks. They included clocks that were month going or with quarter chiming, moon phase, rocking ship and alarm features.

He also made a clock in 1762, just after the change from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, which enabled the owner to calculate the date of Easter. This feature is unknown in any other 18th or 19th century clock. This is a remarkable achievement for any clockmaker, let alone one living in Guernsey. Following his death the clockmaking business was continued by his Naftel grandsons.

Mr Blondel lived at 43 Cornet Street (opposite Martel Maides Auction House) but the house was pulled down when Cornet Street was widened. The plaque will be positioned where the house used to stand. A short ceremony will take place at 14:30, during which the Bailiff, Sir Richard Collas will unveil the plaque.

Members of the public are welcome to attend this event particularly anyone who owns a Blondel or Naftel clock.

Pictured: The site of Nicolas Blondel's blue plaque.