Historic Clock Tower in St Albans welcomes visitors during anniversary year
Cllr Gill Clark opens the Clock Tower in St Albans for the season - the landmark is also hosting an exhibition to mark the 150th anniversary of its restoration by Sir Gilbert Scott. - Credit: Photo supplied
St Albans’ famous Clock Tower is now open for visitors every weekend until the end of September, from 10.30am to 4.45pm.
Cllr Gill Clark opens the Clock Tower in St Albans for the season - the landmark is also hosting an exhibition to mark the 150th anniversary of its restoration by Sir Gilbert Scott. - Credit: Photo supplied
On Good Friday the deputy Mayor, Cllr Gill Clark, officially opened the Clock Tower for the 2016 season, using a copy of the massive ceremonial key held by St Albans Museum.
She also launched a new display, housed on the first floor, detailing the restoration of the tower completed by Sir Gilbert Scott in 1866.
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the restoration of the city centre’s iconic landmark.
St Albans is unique in the country in being the only town that has managed to hold on to its medieval town belfry.
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Built in 1405 by the townspeople to assert their freedom in the face of the Abbey, the Clock Tower contained a clock from the beginning, so the town had a way of telling time independent of the Abbey bells, and could sound its own curfew.
It is well worth a visit to experience the medieval rooms and spiral staircase as well as enjoy the magnificent views across this district and neighbouring areas from the roof.
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Volunteers from the Civic Society and the St Albans and Hertfordshire Architectural and Archaeological Society will staff the tower, and if you are interested in offering an hour or so occasionally to help keep it open please contact Jill Singer on joxhey@gmail.com
