Building record 1139500000 - CLOCK TOWER, HIGH STREET

Grade II. Clock tower 1843, with alterations and turret of 1870; altered 1985. Square in plan, 3-stages, ground floor chequer brick with gothic arched doorway to W. side, window to N. and similar arched blank niches containing stone roundels to other sides. Tiled pyramid roof, with dentil brick eaves, and small triangular dormers to S. and E. sides, rising to base of clock turret, red brick with arched recesses containing clock faces and paired ventilator slits below. Stone plaques recording Parish Council owning the clock 1842, erection of tower by Abel Smith Esq., Lord of this Manor 1842 and rebuilding of 1870. Chamfered string at clock face level, tiled pyramid roof with dentil eaves, with wooden bell turret above having tiled spirelet and finial. Attached on the S. side is a low red brick wall with stone dressings and a drinking fountain with stone bowl in gothic arched recess. History; the building was originally designed to house the parish fire engine. Interior adapted to Tourist Office 1985 (B1).