Clockmakers
In the 18th century Deddington had a succession of clockmakers, all drawn from the Quaker community of north Oxfordshire. John Fardon (I) (1700–43) was apprenticed to Thomas Gilkes of Sibford Gower and traded in Deddington from about 1723. His only son John Fardon (II) (1736–86) was only 10 years old when his father died and seems to have been apprenticed in London. In his absence Thomas Harris, a Quaker from Sibford Ferris, ran the business in Deddington until about 1762, when he married a Fardon from North Newington. His history thereafter is not known but he died at Milton and is buried in the grounds of the Friends' Meeting House at Adderbury West. John Fardon (II) returned from his apprenticeship and made longcase clocks. He too is buried at Adderbury West.
Thomas Fardon (1787–1838) made various timepieces including an Act of Parliament clock, longcase clocks and verge watches. He also installed the turret clocks at the parish churches of St. Mary the Virgin, Kidlington in 1805 and SS. Peter and Paul, Deddington in 1833. John Fardon (III) (1782–1865) was a watchmaker who was known to have carried out repairs between 1801 and 1830. He moved his business to Woodstock in 1838 and maintained the clock at St. Mary the Virgin, Kidlington from 1839 until 1862.
Joshua Gibbs was either apprenticed to or employed by the Fardons. He traded first at Souldern and then succeeded the Fardons at Deddington, perhaps when John Fardon (III) moved to Woodstock in 1838. Gibbs' dates of birth and death are not known but he was trading from 1805 until 1855.
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