Time stood still. The Bexleyheath Coronation Memorial Clock Tower loomed before us. Its imposing brick structure seemed to whisper tales of a bygone era.
This magnificent tower wasn’t merely a timepiece. It was a monument. A testament to King George V’s coronation. The Bexleyheath Coronation Memorial Clock Tower marked a pivotal moment in British history. Unveiled on July 17 1912 it celebrated the King’s ascension to the throne.
Designed by local architect Walter Maxted Epps the tower’s construction began almost immediately after George V became king. The foundation stone was laid on January 8 1911. The finished tower stood 46 feet tall. Its base measured 13 feet square. It cost £454 to build. Messrs Friday and Ling a local firm undertook the construction. The Bexley Urban District Council commissioned the tower. Public donations funded its creation. It was intended to stand “as a memorial to the enterprise and loyalty of the inhabitants of Bexleyheath”. The council hoped it would mark “the beginnings of better things to come in Bexleyheath”.
Beneath each clock face were niches. Epps envisioned them filled with busts of Royal Family members. A bust of King George V was unveiled at the opening ceremony. Sadly this bust disintegrated over time. It was eventually recast by John Ravera a Bexleyheath resident and President of the Royal Society of British Sculptors. In 1997 a bust of William Morris was unveiled in another alcove. He lived at the nearby Red House.
A bell was added in 1913. But the Defence of the Realm Act of 1914 silenced it for fear that German spies might use it. The bell didn’t ring again until 2000. A time capsule was placed beneath the foundation stone. It details how Bexleyheath celebrated the coronation.
In 2013 a bust of Queen Elizabeth II was added. It marked the 60th anniversary of her coronation. One niche remains empty. It awaits a worthy addition. This beautiful tower a Grade II listed building stands as a timeless symbol of Bexleyheath’s history. It continues to mark the passage of time. Its story echoes through the ages. A testament to the town’s loyalty and enterprise. The Bexleyheath Coronation Memorial Clock Tower a lasting legacy.