Preparatory work to one of the UK’s last remaining Time Balls is now underway.
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hull City Council, a fully working Time Ball and internal mechanism will be installed.
The historic Guildhall Time Ball, once operational, will join a handful of other working Time Balls in the UK, including Greenwich London, Carlton Hill in Edinburgh, two in Kent and one in Brighton.
Local construction company, Hobson & Porter will remove the existing replica ball and install a new one. Other elements of works consist of replacing the internal mechanism, renovating to parts of the clock tower and its historic stonework, lantern and a new electrical installation to supply the Time Ball mechanism.
The first work onsite will see the installation of a 21-level scaffold from the pavement right up to the tip of the Guildhall Time Ball mechanism, in addition to a full scaffold down the north elevation of the Guildhall on Hanover Square.
Councillor Daren Hale, Portfolio Holder for Economic Investment, Regeneration and Planning, Land and Property, said: “The Guildhall Greenwich Time Ball is a distinctive landmark in the city centre and a timepiece of great heritage project, so I am delighted to see work starting.
“Thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund a fully working the Time Ball will be installed and will be preserved, rediscovered and celebrated for future generations.”
Joe Booth, Business Development Director at Hobson & Porter, said: ‘Whilst every project we deliver is unique, rarely do we get an opportunity to work on a project of such historic and cultural importance as this in our home city.
“It’s great for a local company such as ours to deliver the time ball restoration project and to create a physical legacy which will ensure the city’s rich maritime heritage lives on for decades for come.”
The work is expected to be complete this autumn.
