One of Belfast's most famous clocks, the Albert Clock, which rang in the New Year, is to get a major restoration costing nearly £2million. The work will also ensure that the monument stops leaning further.
Designed by local architect William Barry, the Albert Clock has been one of the most famous features of Belfast's skyline for 130 years. It was finished in 1870 in memory of Queen Victoria's late husband, Prince Albert. The structure, which is 43 meters tall, is now sloping, although its tilt is not quite as bad as the leaning tower of Pisa. The memorial was built on slobland at the foot of a river. Action is now being taken to stabilise the foundations, although the structure will still be nearly a meter out of plumb.
The tower was built with sandstone from County Down, but the surface has been damaged by a combination of weather, pollution, and a large bomb explosion seven years ago in nearby High Street. When work on the foundations is complete, the exterior of the monument along with the clock face will be restored along with its internal mechanism. The scheme by Belfast City Council will cost £2million, most of which is coming from the British Heritage Lottery Fund. The project will take nearly 2 years to complete.
