Description

BRIGHTON

TQ3006 STANFORD AVENUE
577-1/12/867 (North side)
Clock tower in Preston Park

II

Clock tower. Dated 1891 on the foundation stone to the west,
and 1892 on an inscription to the south. Designed by FJC May
for the Recreation Committee of Brighton Borough Council. Paid
for by Councillor Edward White. Built by F Patching and Son.
Red and buff terracotta, brick and stone, granite, copper,
tiles. The tower is alternately square and octagonal in plan,
and rests on a plinth of granite steps.
The first stage is square, with a battered base of buff
terracotta and aedicules to either side formed of columns of
buff terracotta carrying an entablature with stone frieze and
open pediment of red terracotta; date 1891 in a cartouche to
the tympanum. Within each aedicule, a round-arched niche, the
architrave having a Gibbs surround, heads to keystones and a
polished granite panel below, except on the east side which
has a flat-arched entrance, the door having ornate
wrought-iron hinges, with a shell-niche above. The upper part
has a reverse squinch at the corners in the form of consoles,
making the transition to the second stage which has a red
terracotta frieze of festoons, long sides to the cardinal
directions with 3-light, segmental-arched blank tracery and a
cartouche below flanked by seated putti; then a frieze of
blank ogee tracery; then a third, clock stage with clocks on
each face with a circular moulding and heraldic griffins to
the lower corners holding shields with the initials EW, and
festoons and pediment above; flanking the clock faces are
corbelled, octagonal, panelled, domed pinnacles, perhaps
incomplete; the 4th, octagonal, lantern stage is in timber
with deep bracketed eaves to domed octagonal roof topped by a
dated weather-vane.

Listing NGR: TQ3071906195

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26661100

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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