Baron de Stern Clock Tower

Did the Baron de Stern Clock Tower always hold such silent grandeur? Today, the Baron de Stern Clock Tower stands proudly on Queen Mary’s Mile End campus. It’s a testament to a son’s love and a community’s spirit. Herbert Stern gifted this magnificent clock tower in 1890. It was a tribute to his father, Baron de Stern, meant for the people of East London. The Baron de Stern Clock Tower, built in 1890, originally complemented the People’s Palace. This palace aimed to offer intellectual and recreational opportunities to the East End community. A fire ravaged the Palace in 1931. Yet, the Baron de Stern Clock Tower miraculously survived. Look closely at the tower. You’ll see a double cupola, wide cornices framing the clock, and four faces displaying the time. Though the clock hands no longer move, the tower’s inscription still speaks volumes. “Presented to the trustees of the People’s Palace for the benefit of the people of East London by Herbert Stern Esq. In memory of his father Baron de Stern,” it reads. On the north side, the Roman numerals MDCCCXC mark the year of its creation. And on the east, a curious relief depicts a bird against a sunrise or sunset, with the motto “Time trieth troth.” This phrase harks back to the Jacobites. They fruitlessly awaited the return of the Stuarts. The Baron de Stern Clock Tower offered more than just time. The north and south sides once housed marble drinking fountains. While no longer functional, these fountains symbolize the tower’s original intent: to serve the people. Designed likely by Edward Robson, the architect of the People’s Palace, the Baron de Stern Clock Tower is now a Grade II listed monument. It serves as a poignant reminder of a time when a son’s devotion and a community’s need converged in stone and time.