The pub referred to by Bill above is "The George Hotel" in Piercebridge. If memory serves me correct, the clock in the song was owned by two twin brothers, neither of whom married. The clock stopped when the last of the brothers died.

The George is a great place and can be highly recommended, I've stayed there quite a few times (handy for the Newcastle Ferries), the clock stands in what was the reception area when I was last there and there is a full history of the clock and the song beside it. Other items that used to be in the George were a complete set of prints depicting Dick Turpin's ride to York and a whole rake of furniture carved with an adze by a Yorkshire furniture maker whose symbol was the carving of a mouse on each piece of furniture, his name escapes me at the moment.

The song was one of our local postman's at the new year in Scotland, the chimes were rung during the singing of the song by everyone tapping their glasses with a coin, key or knife.