Halifax Town Clock facts for kids
The Town Clock is a very famous landmark in Halifax, Nova Scotia. People also call it the Old Town Clock or the Citadel Clock Tower. It's easy to spot in the old part of downtown Halifax.
Contents
History of the Town Clock
.jpg)
The idea for this clock came from Prince Edward, Duke of Kent. He was a prince and a top military leader in British North America. He noticed that the soldiers in Halifax were often late! So, he arranged for a special clock to be made before he went back to England in 1800.
How the Clock Tower Looks
The clock tower has three levels and is shaped like an uneven octagon. It sits on top of a white building that has a classic design. It was built on the east side of Citadel Hill, facing Barrack Street (which is now Brunswick Street). The clock has four faces, and they show Roman numerals. Just like many clocks, the number 4 is shown as IIII instead of IV, which makes it look more balanced.
How the Clock Works
A famous clockmaking family from London, called "House of Vulliamy," built the clock's inner parts. It works using three heavy weights, many gears, and a long pendulum that is 13 feet long! All these parts are held in a strong metal frame inside a room just below the bells. The clock's bell rings every hour and every 15 minutes. This clock mechanism is very old, but it still works well because it moves slowly and is built to last.
The Town Clock started telling time for the soldiers on October 20, 1803.
Caretakers and Repairs
In the past, the building holding the Town Clock was used as a guard room. It was also a home for the person who looked after the clock. The first caretaker's last name was Dechman.
Over the years, the Town Clock has been repaired many times. Now, Parks Canada takes care of it, as they also look after the Citadel Hill National Historic Site. The job of a full-time caretaker ended in 1965. Today, employees from Citadel Hill wind the clock twice a week to keep it running.
A big repair project happened in 1960. The outside of the building was made to look like it did when it was first built. The roof was also replaced because of water damage. More repairs were done in 2005 to fix the clock faces. In 2018, they put on a new copper roof and fixed the clock faces and hands again.
The Town Clock is a symbol of Halifax. It has appeared in many drawings, stories, and books about the city. For example, it was even a character named Chimey in the children's TV show called Theodore Tugboat!
Gallery
-
The Halifax Town Clock as seen from Carmichael Street.
-
The Town Clock from behind, on Citadel Hill.
-
The Town Clock as seen from Citadel Hill.
-
The clock at sunset.
