Jubilee Clock Tower Time Ball

The Grade II listed tower, beloved by so many locals and visitors alike, thanks to its central location, was built in 1888 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee. The structure was commissioned by local advertiser James Willing, and a competition was promptly held by the town to decide on a designer. The winning design, although not exactly liked by many locals, was submitted by London-based architect John Johnson. It has since become the go-to meeting place in the centre of the city and has served as the focal point of many a protest—not least of all those with an anti-Victorian sentiment shortly after its completion.

The really unique aspect of the construction is rarely noticed by most passers-by. Perched on the very top of the tower sits a gilded copper ball on a vertical rod. This device was one of several inventions by eccentric local legend, Magnus Volk - best known for the oldest surviving electric railway, Volks Railway, on the seafront.

The hydraulically operated time ball was designed to move up and down the mast, representing the time of day based on its location. Unfortunately, the sound of the wind whistling up the slots on the rod was so loud that the contraption was promptly disabled and sat dormant on top of the structure until refurbishment in 2002.

These days the ball can sometimes be seen at ‘half-mast’ or approaching the top of the rod, though it doesn’t offer a reliable indicator of the time. For that, you should just use the handy clock faces that cover each of the four sides of the tower.