Clock tower chimes again as repairs completed

Repairs to a clock tower dating back to the late 19th Century have been carried out so it can ring out once more.

The chimes at the Grade II listed building in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, were silent since November 2024 while work was carried out on the mechanism.

The city council confirmed the repairs were finished on Thursday and the 16m-high tower was back in operation.

Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker said the tower was an "essential part" of Tunstall's story and a reminder of the civic pride which built the town.

"When a landmark like this falls silent, something important is lost," he added.

"Restoring the chimes is a statement of intent - that Tunstall's heritage matters and that we will look after what previous generations built."

The clock tower was erected in 1893 and features a life-size bust of former Staffordshire North MP Sir Smith Child, who was born in the town in 1808.

The city council said the work was part of its wider improvement plans for Tunstall, which included £4.5m of government funding to regenerate public spaces.

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