John Arnold
(1736-1799)
Died aged c. 63
Wikidata WikipediaJohn Arnold (1736 – 11 August 1799) was an English watchmaker and inventor. John Arnold was the first to design a watch that was both practical and accurate, and also brought the term "chronometer" into use in its modern sense, meaning a precision timekeeper. His technical advances enabled the quantity production of marine chronometers for use on board ships from around 1782. The basic design of these has remained, with a few modifications unchanged until the late twentieth century. His legacy includes, together with Abraham-Louis Breguet, as one of the inventors of the modern mechanical watch. One of his most important inventions, the overcoil balance spring is still used in most mechanical wristwatches. It was from around 1770 that Arnold developed the portable precision timekeeper, almost from the point where John Harrison ended his work in this field. But, compared to Harrison's complicated and expensive watch, Arnold's basic design was simple whilst consistently accurate and mechanically reliable. Importantly, the relatively simple and conventional design of his movement facilitated its production in quantity at a reasonable price whilst also enabling easier maintenance and adjustment. Three elements were necessary for this achievement: * A detached escapement, which gave minimal interference with the vibrating balance and balance spring * A balance design that enabled compensation for the effect of temperature on the balance spring * A method for adjusting the balance spring, so that the balance oscillates in equal time periods, even through different degrees of balance arc
DbPedia
Commemorated on 2 plaques
Well Hall Pleasaunce An 18th century house standing on this site before its demolition in 1931 was for 23 years the home of Edith Nesbit (1858 - 1924), author of The Railway Children. During her somewhat unusual married life here with husband Hubert Bland, a founder member of the Fabian Society, she wrote many other books including The Phoenix and the Carpet, Five Children and It and the Wouldbegoods. Before Edith Nesbit took up residence here in 1899, there were other notable occupiers of this imposing three storey house. The famous clock maker, John Arnold, lived here from 1779 to 1799, seeking an answer to longitude, and the Rev. Charles Fryer, vicar of St John's church at Eltham in the 1840s. The house was used as the boarding section of Well Hall School in the 1880s and their bell can still be seen on the nearby Tudor Barn. However, Edith Nesbit, with her magic touch of writing children's stories which still live on today in television and film adaptations, is the name now most associated with Well Hall House. She loved living here in this part of South East London and especially enjoyed punting on the moat whilst entertaining her many literary friends, George Bernard Shaw and H.G. Wells among them. In 1915 and 1916 the grounds were used for garden parties, held to raise funds for The Pioneer Women Campaigners (connected with the Woolwich Labour Party). Hubert died at Well Hall in 1914. Three years later Edith married marine engineer Tommy Tucker known as 'Skipper', and in 1922 left Eltham for Jesson St. Mary, near Dymchurch Kent, where they had enjoyed numerous holidays exploring the countryside. It was here in 1924 that Edith died; she lies at rest at St. Mary-in-the-Marsh Church, Romney Marsh, Kent.
Well Hall Pleasaunce, SE9, London, United Kingdom where they was
Near this spot lived and worked John Arnold born in Bodmin 1736 Horologist, perfector of the ship's chronometer and benefactor of those who journey on the seas
10 Fore Street, Bodmin, United Kingdom where they lived near and worked near