McKee Clock Tower

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Free-standing classically ordered four sided clock-tower dated 1915, designed by H.C. Bell. Located at the east side of the Marine Gardens, off Quay Street; adjacent to listed building, Court of Petty Sessions (HB23/05/011).

Constructed in ashlar sandstone; skeleton iron clock face with opal glass.

Principal elevation faces east. Quadrilobe column on hexagonal pedestal rising to modillion cornice; squared upper section with chamfered corners. Clock face embedded at frieze level. Pyramidal cap with gablets inset with cusped panelling. Surmounted by weather-vane. Marble plaque at base inscribed with, "8 July 1915. This stone records the appreciation of the Bangor Urban District Council for the generous gift of this clock to his native town by James McKee. The above James McKee died on 28th April 1919."

South elevation primarily matches east. Hexagon corner centred on pedestal.

West elevation matches east. Small service door located centrally in pedestal.

North elevation matches south. Masons mark on left hand side of pedestal.

Setting

The clock tower is sited to close the vista at the end of High Street and Main Street. Surrounded by a modern landscaped esplanade, partially obscured by vegetation; large car parks located to the north and west; thoroughfare to the east; opposite buildings fronting Quay Street, Bridge Street and Queens Parade and within view of listed building (HB23/05/011). Small bandstand replica located adjacently to the south.

Material: Ashlar sandstone
Clock: Iron and glass

Historical information

The McKee clock was unveiled by Miss Connor of Glenbank on 8th July 1915 and is captioned on the 4th edition OS map of 1919-26. It replaced a bandstand which was then moved to Marine Gardens. Two photographs of c.1916 have survived which show the clock, shortly after it was erected, surrounded with an iron railing. (Patton, p.168, Crosbie, p.8-9)

The clock tower was designed by H C Bell, the Town Surveyor from 1908 to c.1918 (www.dia.ie). It was built by John McNeilly of Victoria Street using Scrabo sandstone dressed by Thomas Blaney of Belfast. The works were made by Sharman D Neill and it was originally intended that the clock faces, of skeleton iron, glazed with opal glass, would be illuminated at night by gas lighting. (www.stonedatabase.com, Patton, p.168)

According to Patton, James McKee was the Borough Rates Collector and had become wealthy due to the expansion of Bangor towards the close of the nineteenth century. He donated £200 to the Council for the erection of a public clock, “in the vicinity of the Esplanade for the convenience of the public”. (Patton, p.168)

The plaque at the base of the tower denoting details of the benefactor, James McKee, was later altered to commemorate the date of his death, 28th April 1919.

At the time of writing, the clock had recently been cleaned and restored.

References:

Primary Sources

1.PRONI OS/6/3/2/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1919-26
2.PRONI OS/6/3/2/5 – Fifth Edition OS Map 1939
3.Lawrence collection, photograph 11991
4.W A Green collection, photographs 346, 3103
5.Welch collection, photographs 6, 9
6.Spectator, 20 March 1914
7.Spectator, 24 April 1914
8.Spectator, 9 July 1915
9.Spectator 15 July 1915

Secondary Sources

1.Crosbie, Jane E.M. “A Tour of North Down 1895-1925, Historic Photographs fro the W.A. Green Collection at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum” Belfast: Friar’s Bush Press, 1989
2.Patton, M, “Bangor, An Historical Gazetteer” Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1999
3.www.stonedatabase.com
4.www.dia.ie – Dictionary of Irish Architects online

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Free-standing clock-tower dated 1915 built to the designs of H C Bell, the Town Surveyor at the time. Built with the funds donated by local rates collector, James McKee, and presented to the town. The clock-tower survives as original although its setting has been compromised and it is surrounded by a modern esplanade. Its unusual design with fine quality detailing, materials and workmanship are of special interest.