Preface

This brief essay has been compiled to essentially document the evolution of the Thirsk Market Place Clock Spire since it was originally conceived, to the present day. Some reference is also made to historical enhancements to the Clock structure where appropriate.

Information has been extracted from well known accounts of Thirsk by renowned historians, who I hereby give credit to, together with dated pictorial evidence from the internet (again courtesy of every contributor.)

The narrative is structured by firstly including an introduction to the concept, logic, justification and reasoning behind the origin of the Clock, followed by a concentrated report on the differing appearances of the spire over time. Pictures of the Market Place itself have been included within each era, to familiarise the reader with the surrounding buildings and perhaps the atmosphere existing at the time.

David Bradley, May 2017

Introduction – The origins of the Clock

Since the days of old when Knights were bold, the 1145 AD Thirsk Market Place’s only architectural adornment was, like many other market towns of the period, a Market Cross. Records show that the Thirsk’s Cross was in existence in 1629, and so it is not surprising therefore that by the early 19th century it was becoming extremely dilapidated, being described at the time as a broken stump on severely worn steps. Originally it appears to have been a structure of some substance, with the cross ‘bearing on its capital, four dials facing the four cardinal points of the horizon’, standing on four steps and being some nine feet in height.

In 1893 a public meeting was held to decide on a ‘suitable way of celebrating the approaching marriage of H.R.H. the Duke of York to Princess Mary of Teck’, later coming to the Throne as King George V and Queen Mary. Proposals were made ranging from water troughs, fountains and clocks. The final agreed design was for an illuminated turret clock and drinking fountain which was costed at £200. The old Cross stump and steps were removed and relocated to the left of The Hall where they can still be seen today.

Public subscriptions were slow in forthcoming however and the townsfolk became impatient to the extent that they erected a ‘dummy’ clock in the intended place.

Eventually in 1896 (some three years after the wedding) the clock was finally erected by a contractor who does not seem to have been recorded.

The Clock was finally completed and an Inauguration ceremony took place in 1896 to celebrate the event. As agreed some three years earlier it had illuminated dials and incorporated a drinking fountain on the West side, and a water trough for dogs. Originally it was mechanically driven, and access to the mechanism for winding up and to address other maintenance issues was by a small door on the North side.

The Clock Spire

Now to illustrate the changes over time regarding the profile of the Clock spire, with some reference to the gables surrounding the dials, the eaves and apexes, the following pictures and explanatory notes will hopefully identify specific architectural changes to the spire within approximate phases in time. To help identify the era of each phase, illustrations of the Market Place at that time have been included. Some notes are also included referring to the clock in general, where it is considered relevant to the study on the variations in the spire profile.

About 1905 to about 1921

We now enter an historical period of uncertainty as conflicting accounts from reputable historians tend to be at variance with each other and clearly are often at odds with datable pictorial evidence. The implications are that in or around 1905 the iron finials disappeared, whether by a catastrophic occurrence, such as a lightning strike, or were removed due to safety concerns, or as part of the metal reclaiming policy prior to WWl, remain unclear.

What is without doubt, the clock remained essentially like this, including the spire which remained unchanged, until at least 1921, as again pictorial evidence (particularly a British Pathe film clip of a Thirsk carnival in 1921) shows.

During the years between about 1920 and 1987 the Clock needed constant maintenance due to the crumbling sandstone both outside and inside. In 1937 the mechanical mechanism was replaced by an electric system and the water fountain was removed just before the war. In 1956 major restoration work was conducted, in 1969 the Clocks electric system was completely rewired, and in 1987 the clock was completely renovated at a cost of over £6,000.

So whether by an ACT of God, an Act of Hooligans, or an Act of the Council, the resultant replacement simple spire, endured for the longest period of time so far.

From this time onward it became apparent to the Local Council that the clock would need constant maintenence and frequent repairs on an on going basis. This work is therefore now being conducted on a contractual arrangement by suitable specialists. Such items that have needed recent attention are replacing some of the clock dials, replacing the North facing access door, stonework cleaning, and servicing and replacing many parts of the mechanical and electrical movements.

It is hoped that with such dedicated attention, the clock (now 120 years old) and spire (now a mere 30 years old) will last at least for another 120 years and continue to be a focal point for Thirsk Market Place.