Clock Tower

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Free-standing concrete clock tower with stone-clad base, erected c.1970, set within a landscaped island called Marine Garden overlooking Belfast Lough to the southeast. Stone-clad wall enclosing a marble-clad fountain feature to the east added c.1990.

Stone-clad triangular base supporting a cantilevered painted concrete triangular slab and abutted by a further concrete wall to the east having a corridor between. A steel gate to the southeast gives access to the corridor which has two square-headed door openings with timber plank doors. To the southeast side of the base rises a slender concrete triangular clock tower of approximately 10 metres with clock face to its northeast and west faces formed in raised metal lettering “MARINE GARDEN” and clock hands. To the east is a former raised planting bed enclosed by a low rendered wall, which has since been stone-clad with the addition of a marble-clad pyramid surmounted by a bronze urn. Abutting the south apex of the clock tower is a low rendered wall which continues southwest to enclose the garden. Running along the south of the low wall is a lawned area enclosed to the public footpath by a geometrically designed concrete kerb. To the north of the garden is a pair of stone-clad piers with ball finials and a steel arch forming a formal entrance to the garden.

Roof: N/A
Walling: Cast concrete
Windows: N/A

Historical information

No historical information could be found on the clock tower, but in style it is of later twentieth century appearance, potentially the early 1970s. The flowerbed is of recent appearance.

Stone-clad wall enclosing a marble-clad fountain feature to the east added c.1990.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Free-standing concrete clock tower with stone-clad base, erected c.1970, set within a landscaped island called Marine Garden overlooking Belfast Lough to the southeast. The clock tower makes a bold modernist statement on this coastal location, however the design has been modified by the addition of a fountain in a different style which detracts from the purity of the original design.