Stonehaven Clock Tower

In recent years the building had fallen into disrepair and required substantial renovation works to bring it back to safe and sustainable use. In considering the various constraints afforded by the Tower’s restricted floorplan, siting, access opportunities, limited adaptability for alternative uses and configuration; the preferred restoration option was to sustain and enhance its role in providing an attractive facility for both the local community and tourists. As such, the Tower underwent an extensive programme of sympathetic internal and external repairs to consolidate and enhance its original role of providing a public service.

Previously, the Tower was underused and lay vacant and ignored for the majority of the year until its incorporation in the Annual Fireballs celebrations when the Tower was illuminated and the bells rang out at midnight. The overall vision for the Tower was to maintain it externally in its current form as a prominent feature of the High Street of Stonehaven, with appropriate repairs and restoration to the facades. Externally the only addition was an all abilities access ramp to the ground floor. Internally, much of the timber flooring and steep stairs were beyond repair, and the spaces on the middle two internal levels were of no practical use because of their very limited size.

Following discussions with Historic Environment Scotland, it was agreed that the middle two floors could be removed allowing the bells and clock mechanisms to be viewed from the ground floor. A new system of access ladders and narrow platforms were installed to allow access for maintenance only, to the top level, bells, clock mechanism and external walkways. Internally, on the ground floor, an interpretative display was installed, providing historical information on the Tower itself and the history of the Fireballs ceremony, a video of the actual Fireballs ceremony, a walking trail around the Old Town and an interactive computer screen showing a 360 degree panorama from the top of the Tower.

The restoration works included:

• Repairs to bellcote and weathervane, new lead roof and flashings
• New timber balustrade and matching railings for all abilities access
• Repointing of external and internal walls
• Replacement of displaced/damaged sandstone blocks
• Timber window and door repairs and repainted
• Replacement of existing bell cradle with new hardwood cradle
• Full restoration of historic barometer
• Repairs to bells and reinstatement of chiming mechanism for clock