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Time called for Cardiff city hall clock 20/12/2004
Cardiff’s century-old city hall clock will be taken out of operation this week to allow essential repairs to be carried out.
The four face skeleton clock, with pure copper and tin cast bells and features designed by Lord Grimthorpe who also designed Big Ben, was formally started by the Mayor and Mayoress of Cardiff (Alderman and Mrs Hughes) on St David's Day 1905.
During the course of their annual maintenance of the clock, clockmakers JB Joyce discovered a problem with the clock mechanism and excessive wear on two of the four spindles that control the minute arms, which has resulted in the clock being unable to maintain the correct time.
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A short term solution was proposed, but earlier this week the clock stopped entirely. We are advised that in order to avoid any further damage ahead of permanent repair work, the clock should be turned to 12 o'clock and disconnected,” said a council spokesperson.
“It's obviously disappointing that arguably the city's most prominent centenarian will not be in good working order as we celebrate the beginning of Cardiff's century as a city, but we accept that at the ripe old age of 100, most of us will be in need of a bit of maintenance to keep us going.”
A digital link to London is being arranged for New Year's Eve and the chimes of Big Ben will ring in the New Year at Cardiff's Calennig celebrations in the civic centre.
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