Leigh Extence

At the beginning of 2018 we took over the running of Derval Antiques, the last antique clock business of Derek Roberts, which now runs alongside Leigh Extence Antiques.

Derek was one of the foremost horological dealers and wrote a number of highly regarded books on the subject including the mammoth three volume set on Precision Pendulum Clocks along with others on Longcase Clocks, Carriage Clocks, Skeleton Clocks and the definitive work on Mystery & Novelty Clocks.

Derek was one of the first dealers to produce regular quarterly catalogues and his name is internationally recognised in the world of horology.

Leigh Extence started his horological life in 1981 with a three year apprentice as a clockmaker on the wilds of Dartmoor before taking on the management of the Antique Clock department in Harrods, Knightsbridge.

He then moved to Kent as right-hand man to well-known dealer and author Derek Roberts, following which he set up on his own account having moved back down to Devon.

In 2006 Leigh was made a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers and raised to the Livery the following year.

Leigh is also the horological consultant to the Exeter auctioneers Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood.

I am researching the clocks and lives of two of the great Parisian carriage clock makers Henri Jacot & Pierre Drocourt, along with their families and associates including Holingue frères and the Baveux family. This research has extended to others including Fernier, Bourdin, Moser and the Delépine family of Saint Nicolas d'Aliermont.

Numerous hours in Paris pouring over documents in the Bibliothèque Nationale as well as visiting the homes & workshops of these makers are summarised in the two published exhibition catalogues along with various articles.

The research is very much ongoing and added to on a regular basis through updates and published articles which are shown via link above.