Margate Clock Tower

Margate Clock Tower is an iconic and well-loved feature of Margate. Built to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, it was officially opened on 24th May 1889, the Queen’s 70th birthday.

The Clock Tower boasts a time ball, used to allow ships at sea and onlookers on shore to set their clocks accurately. The time ball is a large copper ball which was raised to the top of the mast at the pinnacle of the tower and dropped at precisely 1.00pm. Unfortunately, the time ball at Margate has not worked for many years and Margate Civic Society is raising funds to enable Thanet District Council, the owner of the Clock Tower, to restore the time ball to full working order.

Mike Bundock, a member of the British Horological Institute, is advisor to Margate Civic Society on this project, and is writing a book on the history of Margate Clock Tower. Subscribers to the project who order and pay for the book in advance will have their names printed in it on publication, as a gesture of thanks for their kind contribution to the renovation of the time ball.

The book will cost £10 plus £2 p&p and all funds raised after the cost of publishing will go towards the time ball project. Mike Bundock is not charging any fee for his work. It is intended to publish the book in May 2013. What about buying the book as a gift to a friend or relative and having their name included in the book?

To pre-order, please click here to download your application form.