The time has come for the clock tower that has loomed large above Harborne to be put back into use.
The landmark tower, which marked time in the town for more than a century before stopping in the mid-1980s, has been fully refurbished as part of a £30,000 restoration programme.
The work is part of a wider scheme to regenerate a former school building on the High Street to transform it into a restaurant and residential development called The School Yard.
It has seen four historic clock faces and mechanisms repaired and ready for use when the first phase of the mixed use scheme opens later this year.
Neil Edginton founder of developer EDG Property, said the clock was central to the wider £5 million scheme.
He said: “The clock is an intrinsic part of our redevelopment of The School Yard scheme and of Harborne as a place. It is a real landmark so its careful restoration was of prime importance.”
The clock was originally manufactured by John Smith and Sons of Derby in the 1800s, and 150 years later the restoration work is being carried out by the same firm.
Now known as Smith of Derby, the horological technology company carried out a mechanical restoration and the four clock faces have been modernised with illuminated backgrounds.
Mr Edginton added: “There is a lovely synergy in working with Smith of Derby after all these years and as we believe that the clock hasn’t struck the hour since the mid-1980s.”
The clock will stay silent until the launch of the first phase of development at The School Yard which is scheduled for this autumn. This will mark the opening of the restaurants at the scheme, which include Metro Continental, Prezzo Group, Urban Coffee Company and community cookery firm Kitchen School.
Keith Cotton, from Smith of Derby, said: “It is a true privilege to bring a beautiful timepiece back into full working order, especially as it was our firm that made and fitted the clock over 150 years ago.”
