It is time for this clock to be wound up

£10,000 campaign for town’s landmark to be restored to glory

BURSTING with colour, this is how Morpeth’s famous floral clock once looked.

And, if determined locals get their way, it’s how it will look again before too long.

The timepiece, which sits in the Northumberland town’s Carlisle Park, was presented to the borough of Castle Morpeth in 1972 as a fully functional clock, its hands moving between the densely planted flower beds which marked off each hour.

Since then, its condition has deteriorated: the hands haven’t turned in eight years, and it is now planted like an ordinary flower bed, instead of in the traditional ‘carpet bedding’ style which gave it its original impressive look.

But after a group of residents raised £10,000 for restoration and repairs, the clock is set to be returned to its former glory.

The Friends of Morpeth Floral Clock group, founded by local Barbara Ross, says now that it has hit its fundraising target, the clock should be back in working order by this summer, in time for Morpeth’s entry into the Britain in Bloom competition.

Group member Alison Byard said: “It’s such a community thing, and we’ve had so much community support, about 100 individual donations from Chair of Friends of Morpeth Clock Barbara Ross the public and sponnsors.

“It is a very rare e thing - one of only four ur like it in the country - that was worth saving.

“Planting the clock k up again in its full glory y will give the clock a new lease of life and we e hope people will take e great pride in it.”

The clockwork is s being restored by y Smith’s of Derby, the e original manufacturers, s, who say they’ll ensure e it’s “good as new” once e again. The angle of its face will be raised slightly, making it more visible.

Northumberland County Council has also agreed to offer practical and financial support as repairs are carried out.

The clock and planting will be lit by the adjacent streetlight and protected by a security camera, courtesy of local firm Winn Electrical Services.

But Alison says the clock’s future isn’t secure yet: with a cost of up to £5,000 a year for maintenance and the labour-intensive carpet bedding process, the

attraction could ld fall into disrepair again if it can’t continue to attract donations and sponsorship.

Donations towards the upkeep of the clock can be made at: https://www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/morpethfloralclock https://www.justgiving. com/crowdfunding/morpethfloralclock

A brief history of the Morpeth Floral Clock

The time piece was presented to the borough of Morpeth by James Fairbairn Smith of Detroit in 1972.

It was given in recognition of the civic work of Alderman Bertram Jobson, a former Mayor of Morpeth - it’s thought the two went to school together.

The Friends group claim it is one of only four such clocks in the counrty, the others believed to be in Whitby, Blackpool and Hove.

But over the years, it faced vandalism and damage from people sitting on the hands.

It last ticked in 2008 - a decade on, it could soon be working once again/