Albert Memorial Clock, Belfast
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The Albert Memorial Clock is a tall clock tower situated at Queen's Square, Belfast, in Northern Ireland.
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[edit] History
Constructed mainly in sandstone, between 1865 and 1870, as a memorial to Queen Victoria's late Prince Consort, Prince Albert, it stands 113 feet tall. A statue of the Prince in robes of a Knight of the Garter stands on the western side of the tower. A two tonne bell in housed in the tower.
Designed by William J Barre, who also designed Belfast's Ulster Hall, it is described as a mix of French and Italian Gothic styles.
Built on wooden piles on marshy, reclaimed land around the River Farset, the top of the tower leans four feet off the vertical and is known colloquially as Belfast's "Leaning Tower of Pisa".
[edit] Restoration
To halt the worsening lean and repair damage caused by the elements and heavy passing traffic, a multi-million pound restoration project was completed in 2002. During the project the wooden foundations were strengthened, the majority of the decaying carvings were replaced and entire tower was cleaned.
[edit] Trivia
Being situated close to the docks, the tower was once infamous for being frequented by prostitutes plying their trade with visiting sailors. However in recent years regeneration has turned the surrounding Queen's Square and Custom's House Square into attractive, modern public spaces with trees, fountains and sculptures.
In 1947, the film Odd Man Out was filmed partly in Belfast, with the Albert Clock as a central location, although neither the town or the clock is explicitly identified.
 The Albert Memorial Clock from Queen's Square. |
 View of the clock from High Street, with Samson & Goliath in the distance. |
 The Albert Clock as seen in the opening of Carol Reed's 1947 drama Odd Man Out, starring James Mason. |
[edit] References
- Belfast City Council (January 21, 2004). New Book Celebrates Restoration of Belfast's Landmark Albert Clock. Press release.
