St. George the Martyr’s Black Clockface

The tower of Southwark’s St. George the Martyr Church features four clock faces, three of which are white and stand out from the tower, while the fourth clock face, black and flush with the tower’s eastern side, is less noticeable. 

The origin of this odd face dates to the 18th century, when St. George's underwent significant rebuilding. During this time, funds were solicited from the surrounding districts to aid in the project. Each district contributed to the undertaking, except for Bermondsey, the district east of the church. In vindication, the eastern face of the tower was left blank in answer to Bermondsey's lack of support. For many years, the tower stood with this incomplete facade. 

Even when a fourth clock was finally added, instead of matching the white dials of the other clocks, the new addition was cast in striking black, creating a unique contrast that nods to this historic slight.

Adjoining the northern side of St George’s churchyard is the surviving wall of Marshalsea Prison, where Charles Dickens's father was imprisoned for debt in 1824 when Dickens was 12.