Hang on a second...where has the iconic M&S clock gone?
People have clocked missing timepiece - but it’s unlikely to return to town
What has happened to the goldedged clock that once advised shoppers of the time in Maidstone?
The clock projected from the fascia of 44 Week Street, the building that until the beginning of January housed the one remaining branch of M&S in the town centre.
The centre’s other branch, a few doors along the road, had already closed in August 2020, just prior to the opening of the new out-of-town M&S super store at Eclipse Park.
The clock’s supporting post now hangs forlornly empty. It was housed in a beautiful green and gold case.
The supporting beam and curved brackets were also painted gold. The housing contained two identical, white clock faces with the hours marked in Arabic numerals.
“Marks and Spencer” was written in white on the clock casing above the face.
The clock faces were protected by a glass cover in a gold surround.
Speculation has been rife over what has happened to the clock, ever since it disappeared, though no-one seems certain when that was.
M&S owns the freehold of the property at 44 Week Street, which is being put up for sale or lease. No price has yet been set for the building.
The timepiece’s disappearance has sparked much lamenting on social media with it described as ‘a feature’, ‘iconic’ and ‘a staple of Week Street’.
Cllr Dave Naghi (Lib Dem) said: “It was a bit of Maidstone’s history and it is very sad to see it go.
“A lot of people have noticed. It’s funny - it’s one of those things that you pay no attention to all the time it is there, then suddenly when it’s gone, you miss it.
“I only hope M&S have plans to instal it somewhere else, per
haps at the new Eclipse Park store?”
Unfortunately that suggestion was quashed by M&S. Responding to our inquires the company said: “The clock was
removed by the original manufacturer, Smiths of Derby, and has now been returned to their factory.
“We don’t have any plans to instal it at another store.”