Clock towers are a common feature on hundreds of UK supermarkets, including Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, and Waitrose. While many shoppers barely notice them, these architectural details have a specific origin dating back to the 1970s.
The Trend Began with Asda in Essex
The trend started when Asda built a store in Woodham Ferrers, a newly developed town in Essex, in the 1970s. Strict local planning laws required the building to conform to the area's traditional architecture. To comply, Asda designed a supermarket that resembled a barn with a clock tower, taking inspiration from nearby buildings.
According to TikTok user Chris Spargo, who researched the phenomenon, Asda then replicated this design across the country. Soon, other supermarket giants like Tesco and Morrisons adopted similar clock tower features in their stores built during the 1970s and 1980s.
Why Clock Towers Became Common
When supermarkets first appeared in the UK in the 1960s and 1970s, architects borrowed styles from the US, but these were poorly received by locals and critics. As new towns were developed, planners required shopping centres and supermarkets to blend in with local aesthetics. The clock tower solution helped supermarkets appear more traditional and less obtrusive.
Many of these clock tower supermarkets remain standing today, serving as a lasting architectural legacy from that era.
Public Reaction
Mr. Spargo's TikTok video on the subject garnered widespread interest. One user commented: "This is a deep dive into the dull and mundane. This might be the greatest thing on this app." Another noted: "A little Tesco near me in Bournemouth is converted from a church and the outside is literally a church with a Tesco sign outside. I love it and I think more things should be made from old buildings."
A third viewer said: "Something I'd never even noticed, but watched the entire thing and now will be my next cool fact." A fourth added: "Never noticed before but I'm sure I'll notice it every time I see one now."
