Albert Memorial Clock, Belfast facts for kids
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The Albert Memorial Clock, often called the Albert Clock, is a famous clock tower in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It stands tall in Queen's Square and was finished in 1869. It's one of Belfast's most well-known landmarks.
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Building the Famous Clock
In 1865, people wanted to build a special memorial for Prince Albert. He was the husband of Queen Victoria and had recently passed away. A design competition was held, and W. J. Barre won. He had also designed Belfast's Ulster Hall.
At first, Barre didn't get the building job. It was secretly given to another company that came in second place. But people were upset about this. So, the job was finally given to Barre. The clock tower cost about £2,500 to build. This money was collected from the public.
Design and Features
The clock tower was built between 1865 and 1869. It is made of sandstone and stands 113 feet (about 34 meters) tall. Its style mixes Gothic designs from France and Italy.
At the bottom of the tower, you can see special supports called flying buttresses. These have lion sculptures on them. A statue of Prince Albert stands on the tower's western side. He is shown wearing the robes of a Knight of the Garter. This statue was made by SF Lynn.
Inside the tower, there is a large bell that weighs two tonnes. The clock itself was made by Francis Moore from Belfast.
Why the Clock Leans
The Albert Clock was built on soft, marshy land. This land was reclaimed from around the River Farset. Because of this, the top of the tower leans about four feet (1.2 meters) to one side.
Because of this leaning, some decorations were removed in 1924. This included a stone canopy over Prince Albert's statue. People in Belfast sometimes say the tower "has the time and the inclination." This is a clever way to talk about its lean.
Modern Changes and Damage
In recent years, the area around the clock has been improved. Queen's Square and Custom's House Square are now modern public spaces. They have trees, fountains, and sculptures.
The clock was damaged in 1992. This happened during an explosion near River House on High Street.
Restoring the Clock
To stop the leaning from getting worse, a big restoration project was finished in 2002. This project cost millions of pounds. During the work, the wooden foundations under the tower were made stronger. Most of the old, damaged carvings were replaced. The whole tower was also cleaned.
In Movies and TV
The Albert Clock has appeared in some films and TV shows.
In 1947, parts of the movie Odd Man Out were filmed in Belfast. The Albert Clock was a main filming spot, even though the movie doesn't say it's Belfast.
The clock also appears in an episode of Danger Man. This was in Season 3, Episode 4, called You are not in any Trouble, Are you?. It was filmed in 1965.
Images for kids
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Albert Memorial with Belfast Street Tramways in 1901.
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