Clock Tower, St Albans facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clock Tower, St Albans |
|
|---|---|
The Clock Tower in St Albans
|
|
| General information | |
| Type | Clock tower |
| Location | St Albans, Hertfordshire, England, UK |
| Coordinates | 51°45′05″N 0°20′26″W / 51.75130°N 0.34053°W |
| Completed | c. 1405 |
| Height | 19.6 metres (64 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 5 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Thomas Wolvey |
| Renovating team | |
| Architect | George Gilbert Scott |
The Clock Tower is a Grade I listed belfry in St Albans, England which was constructed between 1403 and 1412, believed to have been completed in 1405. It has been claimed to be the only remaining medieval town belfry in England. Its construction has been seen as a protest against the power of the local abbey to regulate time-keeping in the town.
Bells and clock
The Tower contains a large medieval bell and an eighteenth-century bell.
When the Tower was built clocks were relatively rare in England, although St Albans Abbey had a famous astronomical clock designed by Richard of Wallingford. It may be that the Tower was not initially provided with a clock. There is evidence, however, that a clock existed in the Tower in 1485. The present clock is nineteenth century.
Access
The building has been opened under the auspices of the Heritage Open Days scheme.
Images for kids
-
The plaque affixed to the front face of the Clock Tower highlighting the site of the Eleanor Cross
-
St. Albans High Street in 1807, showing the shutter telegraph style semaphore atop the Clock Tower, part of the London to Great Yarmouth Line.
