Nottingham’s iconic Council House clock has been restored for the first time in nearly half a century, bringing the much-loved timepiece back to its best for generations to come.
The clock, which sits behind Little John (one of the country’s deepest-toned bells) has undergone a complete refurbishment, involving the careful dismantling, inspection, repair and reassembly of 1,195 individual parts.
The complex restoration, carried out by clock specialists under the direction of Nottingham City Council’s Property team, involved months of detailed engineering and craftsmanship.
Among the key works:
- Repairs to cracked quarter chiming levers and re-machining of worn gears to ensure smooth operation of the quarter chimes and hour strike.
- Refurbishment of the gearbox, including new bearings, oil seals and a full repaint after being stripped back to bare metal.
- Overhaul of the electrical and motor systems, with new earthing, cleaned and regreased bearings, and upgraded three-phase power supplies for improved reliability.
- Detailed restoration of the bell mechanisms, with the four quarter bells rotated 180° to present fresh striking surfaces, new crown pads installed, and worn parts replaced or lubricated.
Perhaps most importantly, work on Little John (the largest of the bells) uncovered corrosion around one of the massive bolts securing it in place. Engineers replaced all six bolts with new galvanised ones, preventing potential cracking of the bell in future and preserving one of Nottingham’s most famous sounds.
The clock room has also been fully cleaned, redecorated, and upgraded, including new heaters and lighting. The centre cross of the dial has received a first layer of gilding, with a final coat to follow once the weather improves.
Councillor Jay Hayes, Executive Member for Housing and Planning, said: “Little John and the Council House clock are a proud part of Nottingham’s skyline and our city’s identity. This restoration ensures the clock will continue to chime reliably for another hundred years and beyond. Huge thanks go to the skilled engineers and our in-house teams who’ve brought this historic mechanism back to life.”
The restoration marks the first major overhaul of the Council House clock in almost 50 years, helping to secure its legacy as one of Nottingham’s most enduring landmarks.
ENDS