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The Clock Tower stands just outside
the eastern boundary of the medieval town, near to the former East
Gate. It is a memorial to four of Leicester's notable
benefactors, namely Simon de Montfort, William Wygston, Sir Thomas
White and Gabriel Newton, although their influences on the town were
unique and distinctive.
The tower was designed by the
Leicester architect Joseph Goddard and completed at the cost of exactly
one thousand pounds. The column of the tower is of Ketton stone,
excavated locally (from the neighbouring county of Rutland). The four
statues around the base are of Portland stone and the angled pillars of
of granite and serpentine.
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This view of the Clock Tower is from
High Street looming towards the Haymarket and Belgrave Gate. On the
left is the Eastgates Coffee House on the corner of Churchgate.
This was built in 1885 to a design by Edward Burgess. This same
view today would show the Haymarket Shopping Centre immediately behind
the Clock Tower.
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Until 1862, the area now described as
the `clock tower' or Eastgates, was covered by a large building
formerly used as assembly rooms. In earlier times, this area was
known as Coal Hill, where coal and other commodities were sold on the
open market. During the Danish occupation of the area, this site
continued to be used as a market place, but outside the jurisdiction of
the town. It was also known, for some time, as Bere Hill. The
17th Century building severely restricted the development of the area.
Its demolition enabled the creation of the open space which is still
used today as a meeting place for the people of Leicester, even though
it is outside the medieval town. |
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The
Clock Tower
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