Stirling's Christie Clock, a city centre landmark demolished during a botched repair effort in September 2023, is now undergoing refurbishment and should be completed early next year. The complex restoration follows the clock's collapse after it was dismantled for off-site repairs, sparking outcry from locals and politicians when footage of the demolition emerged.
Councillors later agreed to rebuild the listed clock, with a cost of £898,000 approved earlier this year. Significant progress has been made on specialist off-site activities, including stone conservation, clock restoration and metalwork refurbishment, with procurement of replacement stone also underway.
Timeline for reconstruction
Preparations at the site will begin in late October, with the first phase of works focusing on the existing clock tower base commencing at the start of November. Scaffolding will then be erected ahead of reconstruction works starting in January, with overall project completion scheduled for the end of March.
Originally, the work was hoped to be completed by the end of October, but the delivery programme has been extended after the restoration approach and programme were revised on the advice of architects, the main contractor and conservators. The overall projected costs remain unchanged.
Site works and public impact
All site works will be contained within the vicinity of the public space near the plinth (between Park Terrace and Melville Terrace), which includes the fountain and seating area. Road closures or restrictions will only be required on specific occasions for large deliveries or heavy lifting activities, with further communications shared in advance, including direct engagement with residents and businesses in the immediate vicinity.
Stirling Council leader, Cllr Susan McGill, said: “Additional conservation requirements have extended the programme, but this reflects the realities of restoring a complex historic structure. We know how much the Christie Clock means to the people of Stirling and it is important that we complete the restoration and conservation of the tower to return this important landmark to Stirling.
“Our focus remains on delivering a high-quality restoration that protects the Christie Clock for future generations, while maintaining robust controls of the project, its costs and risks. The revised programme developed by our conservation specialists and contractors will see the project complete and the tower reinstated for spring next year.”
Specialist team and conservation efforts
The contract for the restoration was awarded on February 27 to Go-Wright Ltd, a specialist stonemason, supported by Graciela Ainsworth Sculpture Conservation and ZM Architecture. All stone elements of the clock have been carefully catalogued, cleaned and transferred to specialist workshops under the guidance of conservators.
Graciela Ainsworth said: “The Christie Clock is an important historic monument and every stage of its restoration requires careful investigation, specialist craftsmanship and close attention to detail. Taking the time to fully understand the condition of each element allows us to conserve as much of the original fabric as possible and ensure the clock can be enjoyed by future generations.
Glasgow-based ZM Architecture are project managing the restoration programme, following previous successful conservation operations at venues such as the Glasgow School of Art, Partick Burgh Hall and events venue Oran Mor. Nick Blair, Director of ZM Architecture, added: “Everyone working on this project is addressing the highest professional standards and preserving the integrity of the Christie Clock.
“An extensive programme of conservation work to the salvaged stones is underway and, in parallel, the required replacement masonry is currently being sourced from the quarry to be then hand carved to match on an exacting basis. The manufacture of new clock faces, together with the repair and manufacture of the remaining clock components is also well underway. This is important work and we are determined to deliver the very best for local people on the Christie Clock, which we know is one of Stirling’s most treasured landmarks.”
