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Sep 09, 2023

'Significant proportion' of demolished Stirling clock tower requires new stone

Historic Environment Scotland has indicated that it could take five months for specialist consultants to undertake assessment work. Get the latest top news stories sent straight to your inbox with our

Historic Environment Scotland has indicated that it could take five months for specialist consultants to undertake assessment work.

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No price or timescale, as yet, can be put on restoring Stirling landmark the Christie Memorial Clock due to the intricacy of the project.

It was also pointed out in a report, which went before Stirling councillors last week, that given the extent of the damage to stonework, clock faces and internal mechanisms, it is still not clear how much of the existing clock mechanism can be restored - and that a ‘significant proportion’ of the clock tower will require to be remade with new stone.

Stirling Council had promised to “rebuild and restore” the much-loved city centre C-listed structure, a feature of the city since the 1900s, after it was torn down early last month sparking fierce outrage.

Footage on social media showed crumbled stonework and the clock face in pieces.

In another video an excavator takes hits at the stone column eventually crushing it and the surrounding scaffolding as an angry local shouts at workers.

Following the destruction council leader Chris Kane said he shared residents shock at the “distressing” footage.

And the council’s chief executive Carol Beattie commissioned a review into the chain of events.

Discussions have also been taking place between Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and council representatives.

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Last Thursday councillors were presented with a paper at full council which emphasised that it was ‘not possible at this stage to estimate the cost of replacement of the clock or the timescale for replacement’ and that ‘due to the extent of damage to the stonework, clock faces and internal mechanisms, it is not clear at this stage how much of the existing clock can be restored’ adding: ‘This will need to be assessed by the qualified and approved conservator and stonemason and it will take time to undertake this process.’

The aim of the work on the evening of Friday September 1, it stated, had been the removal of the clock head for repair, not demolition.

The report – authored by two senior officials Brian Roberts and Julia McAfee – also stressed that Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has indicated that it could take five months for specialist consultants to undertake assessment work.

It continued: ‘Only once this work has been completed will it be possible to provide a cost estimate and programme for rebuilding the clock.

‘It is estimated that this phase of work will cost up to £50k to complete. These costs will be met from existing revenue budgets within the infrastructure service.

‘Officers will procure the necessary specialists to lead this work and will report back to council by the end of March 2024, or sooner if possible with an update on the project, including cost estimates and programme.

‘The council will then require to procure the necessary skilled conservators and stonemasons to undertake the physical works to repair and rebuild the clock, and will also need to procure the appropriate supply of approved stone.’

Samples of the original stone have been taken for analysis to establish stone type and to identify the quarry which supplied the stone.

If possible, this would be used as a replacement, but it is ‘too early to say if this will be available’.

Stirling Council leader Chris Kane said following the meeting: “The demolition of such a well-known Stirling landmark was a distressing sight for us all and we share the public’s concern at how this happened.

“While we await the findings of the review into this upsetting incident, it’s important we have taken this decision to progress the initial plans to rebuild the Christie Clock, working with key partners such as Historic Environment Scotland. It’s the right thing to do.

“This is going to be a complex and challenging project, involving a number of skilled and experienced specialists, but I can assure the people of Stirling that we are determined to rebuild the Christie Clock as soon as possible.”

Three recommendations had been approved at last Thursday’s full council meeting. They are: the current review into the circumstances of the demolition, whose outcomes and suggestions, be reported to a special meeting of the audit committee in November; that the clock should be restored - and a reinstatement cost plan and programme presented for approval of funds ‘as soon as practicable’ and ‘no later than the end of the 2023/24 financial year’, as well as a ‘refreshed approach’ to a heritage strategy for Stirling.