Derry's Clock Tower

Clock Tower
Clock Tower
	Derry's Clock Tower
Location	Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom
Coordinates	50.369549°N 4.144645°W
Built	8 August 1862
Built by	Call and Pethick
Built for	William Derry
Architect	Henry Hall
Architectural style(s)	Classical
Listed Building – Grade II
Official name	Clock Tower
Designated	1 May 1975
Reference no.	1130056
	Location within central Devon

Derry's Clock Tower (or Derry's Cross) is a free-standing clock tower in the city of Plymouth, England.

The clock and the nearby former bank are the only buildings to survive the Blitz and postwar development in the immediate area.

On 1 May 1975, English Heritage listed the clock tower at Grade II for its architectural and historical importance.[1]

History

Built in 1862, it was intended as a personal gift for the Prince of Wales, Albert Edward (the future Edward VII) and Princess Alexandra Caroline Marie Charlotte Louise Julia, the daughter of Christian IX of Denmark. The clock tower was a gift from William Derry (1817–1903), the Mayor of Plymouth between 1861–62.[2]

Prior to the destruction of the area in World War II, the clock stood at a major junction of the city comprising George Street, Union Street and Lockyer Street and was commonly regarded as the centre of Plymouth.

Present day

The structure remains standing in its original location and can be found behind the new Theatre Royal.[3]

The clock in the tower has worked for almost all of its 157-year history, including during the Blitz, but as of 3 September 2019, the clock is not functioning.[4]

The repairs to the clocks internal mechanism were completed and it is again working. The actual date it was restored is unknown but was visually confirmed as working on 22nd June 2023.

References

Historic England. "CLOCK TOWER, Non Civil Parish (1130056)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
Bayley, Jon (17 August 2018). "The one part of Derry's Clock tower which has never worked". plymouthherald. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
"Old Plymouth UK | Derry's Clock". www.oldplymouth.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
Atkins, Rachael (3 September 2019). "Why Plymouth's famous Derry's Clock has disappeared". plymouthherald. Retrieved 18 December 2019.

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[1] Historic England. "CLOCK TOWER, Non Civil Parish (1130056)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 1 October 2019.

[2] Bayley, Jon (17 August 2018). "The one part of Derry's Clock tower which has never worked". plymouthherald. Retrieved 18 December 2019.

[3] "Old Plymouth UK | Derry's Clock". www.oldplymouth.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2019.

[4] Atkins, Rachael (3 September 2019). "Why Plymouth's famous Derry's Clock has disappeared". plymouthherald. Retrieved 18 December 2019.