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Clock Towers

Until the 20th century, wristwatches were not commonly used. Even prior to the 18th century, house clocks were also very rare. It was difficult for people to know the exact time when they were out of their homes and tall clock towers played an important role in helping people keep track of time when in public places.

The clock towers, thus constructed, represented the architectural design of that specific era and of the specific country, that’s why today these clock towers are a symbol of cultural heritage.

The first clocks used in a tower had no faces and used a striking bell to alert the surrounding community when to work or when to pray. The first clock tower ever built was the Tower of Winds in Athens, which featured eight sundial clocks. After that a clock tower was designed by Su Song and erected at

Abraj At Bait Saudi Arabia

The Abraj Al-Bait Towers, also known as the Mecca Royal Hotel Clock Tower, is a building in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is the tallest building in Saudi Arabia and is the second tallest building in the world. The clock tower was designed by German architect Bodo Rasch and his firm SL Rasch GmbH. It catches the attention of many people during Haj j or Umrah.

Kaifeng, in 1088, in Song China, featuring a liquid escapement mechanism. After that a clock was put up in a clock tower of the Big Ben, at Westminster, in 1288 and in 1292 a clock was put up in Canterbury Cathedral in England.

Currently, the distinction of having the largest number of clock towers in a country goes to Canada, with a total of 26 towers, then comes England with 19 towers and India is third with 14 clock towers. Our homeland Pakistan has a total number of seven towers, which are located in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sialkot, Peshawar, Multan, Sukkur and Faisalabad.

Some of the most interesting clocks towers around the world with both beauty and fascinating history are listed below. These are my favourites and I hope that after reading about their importance you’ll add them to your list of favourites too.

Hetro|Jolitan J-i'fe Insurance Company Tower

CURRENTLY being converted into a hotel, is a landmark skyscraper located on Madison Avenue, in Manhattan, New York City. Designed by the architectural firm of Napoleon LeBrun & K Sons, built by the Hedden Construction Company, it was constructed in 1909 and served as world headquarters of the company until 2005.

The tower is modelled after the Campanile in Venice, Italy.

Located from the 25th to the 27th floors, the clock has four faces, obviously one on each side.

The clock faces are 2 6.5 feet

(eight metres) in diameter and each digit on it being four feet (1.2 metres) tall. The old Renaissance look was renovated into a more modern streamlined design in 1964.

Merewether Clock Tower

WELL, here it is our very own clock tower situated in old Karachi area. Designed by James Strachan, its foundation stone was laid in 1884 and it formally opened to the public in 1892 by commissioner of Sindh, Sir Evan James and was named after General Sir William,

L. Merewether, the commissioner of Sindh between 1868 to 1877.

The height of the tower is 102 feet. It is built with buff-coloured Gizri stones and the talent of local craftsmen were well-used to construct a tower in the Gothic Revival style that was popular in Victorian England.

The platform is 44 feet square and the height of the tower is 102 feet. All the four sides of the tower boast clocks that are seven feet in diameter. The clocks are at the base of a spire 72 feet high from the ground.

One of the most well-known landmarks of Karachi, the Merewether Clock Tower, or Tower, as it is locally known, is not the metropolis’ most visited or popular landmarks as a result of its historical and architectural was completed in 1858 and renamed value, although it is one of the most as The Elizabeth Tower from The crowded points in the metropolis because of its location — at the junction of two main and busiest roads of the business district, 1.1. Chundrigar Road and M. A. Jinnah Road.

The effects of neglect, time, pollution and often graffiti, are clearly visible on this once beautiful structure.

Clock Tower on the occasion of celebration of the diamond jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Elizabeth Tower is the third tallest clock tower which holds the largest four faced chiming clock in the world. The Big Ben is actually the big large bell hanging in the tower. In 2008, a survey of 2,000 people found that the tower was the most popular landmark in the United Kingdom. It has also been named as the most stylish film location in London.

former cow loon-£anton Railway Clock Tower

Hong Kong

LOCATED on the southern shore of Tsim Sha Tsui. Kowloon, it is all that remains of the original site of the former Kowloon Station on the Kowloon-Canton Railway. It is usually referred to as the Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower for its location. The construction of a terminus in Tsim Sha Tsui started in 1913 and the clock tower was completed in 1915, the clock tower has become a landmark of Hong Kong.

 

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