The shape of a grandfather clock can best be described as a functional yet elegant design. Various necessities caused it to take on the shape it did: for a start, the clock's mechanism was powered by a system of weights, and it needed space in which the weights could hang. It also needed space for a long pendulum to regulate the mechanism. It could probably have been shorter than it was, but then its face would not have been so clearly visible from across the room or down the hallway.

Even though it was in many ways the product of necessity, however, the design of the grandfather clock gave a great deal of scope for tasteful embellishment. The oak or mahogany cases were usually made by cabinet-makers who were skilled at producing elegant furniture. And in fact the grandfather clock bridged the gap between a household appliance and a piece of furniture with remarkable aplomb.

Mention the term grandfather clock to many antique dealers, however, and the corners of their mouths will turn up in a patronising smile as they point out that the only correct name for these articles is 'long case clock'. In fact the story of how the grandfather clock came by its name is quite an interesting one, although it would be hard today to say whether there was a word of truth in it.

It seems that the American song writer Henry Clay Work, whose rousing lyrics include the Civil War song Marching Through Georgia, was staying the night at the George Hotel in Piercebridge, near Darlington. He remarked to the landlord that the long case clock standing in the hallway was stopped. The landlord told him that the clock used to keep excellent time. Years before the hotel had been owned by a pair of brothers and their clock was known far and wide for its accurate time. However, when one of the brothers died, the clock started losing 15 minutes a day. Despite the best efforts of a number of clockmakers the clock carried on losing time, eventually losing as much as an hour a day. Finally, at the precise time when the second brother died, the clock stopped altogether and had not moved from that day onwards.

When he heard this tale Work was moved to write a song, which he duly did and proceeded to sell as sheet music in vast quantities. He named the song 'My Grandfather's Clock', although there is no evidence that the landlord of the George at the time of Work's visit was related to the former owners in such a way. Nevertheless, it was eventually calculated that over a million copies of the song had been sold, making it one of the most popular songs of its time. Thereafter long case clocks were invariably known - except to antique dealers - as grandfather clocks.