Paisley’s bongs are saved in the nick of time for New Year

The beloved bongs of Paisley Town Hall clock have been saved in time for New Year after falling silent for more than a week.

It was feared the bongs that strike the hours at the 19th century building would be silent as Buddies saw in 2019.

This would have been the first time since the town hall opened in 1882 that the 12 strokes on midnight would not have seen in Ne’erday for the town.

However, the day has been saved and the bongs have been restored after the Paisley Daily Express alerted Renfrewshire Council to the problem.

“Colleagues carried out an adjustment to Paisley Town Hall clock and it’s fully operational,” a Renfrewshire Council spokesman said.

This means Hogmanay revellers will be able to celebrate in traditional style at Dunn Square, Abbey Close and the Cross as 2019 is welcomed in.

For more than a week only the Westminster chimes that precede the bongs that mark the hour have been sounding.

This is not the first time that the town hall clock’s bongs have fallen silent.

In October last year, the bell that strikes the hour had not been heard for more that seven days.

This is not the first time Paisley people have demanded the return of the town hall clock bongs.

In 2013, the clock in the 19th-century landmark building fell silent in what was the latest in a long line of malfunctions that have included the clock’s chiming mechanism breaking down repeatedly.

This meant people were left to mark the hour, quarter, and half hours without the Victorian clock’s trademark bongs that can be heard all over the centre of Paisley and beyond.

Renfrewshire Council revealed four years ago it would cough up £13,000 to put things right.

The latest spend follows on from the £20,000 that was paid around 10 years ago for other repairs to keep the much-loved landmark in time.

A new mechanism for the clock timing was installed, which also has a back up override so that the clock continues working even if there is a temporary power cut.

The original, which dated back to 1882, was also replaced.

During one breakdown some years ago, the real bongs were even replaced by a tinny-sounding recording.

But this was met by fury and derision by Paisley people to whom the clock and its chimes are a vital part of the town’s heritage and identity.

In 1873 George A Clark, a member of the famous thread family, left £20,000 in his will to build Paisley Town Hall.

A site was found next to the abbey which was suitable under the terms of the will.

The hall was to be in the New Town, east of the Cart, where George Clark had been born and where his family’s thread mills were.

The George A Clark Town Hall was officially opened in January 1882.

A spokesman for Renfrewshire Leisure said: “Following a minor fault with the town hall timing mechanism today, adjustments were quickly arranged by town hall staff.

“We’re pleased to say the clock is now restored and working normally.”