Kingsbridge Clock Tower has been restored after a two-year project uncovered extensive damage to the Grade II-listed building.

The 1850 building, with its clock tower added in 1875, has been repaired by the Kingsbridge Feoffees after water damage, rot and corrosion were found throughout the historic structure.

The project was initially expected to be a straightforward repair, but closer inspection revealed a four-inch protrusion beneath the front face of the building, presenting a significant health and safety risk.

Specialist contractors were brought in to pin the structure back into place and carry out repairs using traditional materials and methods, as modern techniques would jeopardise the building’s historic status and Victorian construction.

“It was a very complex project in the end,” said John Donovan, chairman of the Kingsbridge Feoffees.

“The building required a lot of lead work and special materials to properly finish the job.”

Original mechanism keeping the Kingsbridge Clock Tower ticking.
Original mechanism keeping the Kingsbridge Clock Tower ticking. (Charlotte Ramsdale)

The cost and availability of materials also affected the project, with prices rising significantly during the works.

The Feoffees, a charity which supports community assets, funded the restoration but said the unexpected £200,000 price tag had put pressure on its resources.

However, as the Town Hall and Clock Tower were “at the heart of Kingsbridge”, Mr Donovan viewed the work as “essential” to preserve the town’s history.

“We are incredibly proud to have completed this restoration and secured the future of this much-loved landmark,” he said.

Since its erection, the building has served as offices for the local constabulary, a holding cell for petty offenders, a drill hall for the Devonshire Rifle Corps, and most recently as a cinema.

Spectators looking at the restoration may notice one side of the tower has no clock face. While local folklore suggests this was to prevent workers at the former warehouse from watching the time, Mr Donovan speculates it was more likely the “least important and most practical side”, allowing access for maintenance.

Kingsbridge Feoffees rely on fundraising and donations, including to build community housing. More information can be found on their website.