The clock tower's century
The clock on a picture postcard showing Kenilworth town in the 1930s. |
Monday will mark the 100th anniversary of the presentation to Kenilworth of its clock tower.
The tower is probably the only one of the town’s landmarks to have been moved since it was built - to make way for new development at Abbey End.
It was also repaired, having been damaged when the German landmine that killed 28 people fell at Abbey End on November 21, 1940.
Here, Kenilworth historian Robin Leach tells the story of how the iconic tower was built.
Mr Leach writes: It was in October 1905 that it first became known that Harry Quick of Abbey Hill had designed a clock tower and water-fountain to be erected in the town. It was not until the following spring that his near neighbour, George Turner of Montpelier House, was revealed as the donor. The builder to be employed, Kenilworth’s Joseph Smith, had chosen the location of The Square without consultation with Kenilworth Urban District Council but the precise location was decided at a meeting in June 1906 between the council and Quick.
Not all were pleased with the location; John Rice a nearby shopkeeper thought that it would be detrimental to his business.
The clock tower pictured soon after the presentation ceremony in 1907. |
A petition was raised asking for the clock to have chimes but this was turned down as two nearby clocks already chimed and a third would cause confusion!
Within weeks, hoardings had been erected and work started; Smith had 30 to 40 pages of drawings to work to. Hollington stone was used in the construction, the decorative stonework was by a Mr Bridgman of Lichfield.
The clock itself was made by a Mr Swinden of Birmingham and it had a wood-rod pendulum with a 1cwt ball. The four clock faces were lit by two gas jets, a mechanism attached to the clock ensured that they were extinguished at 11.30 pm.
On Christmas Eve 1906, the hoardings were removed and the public could see the tower fully for the first time. In front of a large gathering on January 29, 1907, 73-year-old George Turner made a short speech before handing over the key to the members of the council and inviting guests to a lunch at his home.
