There was a moving moment when the City Hall’s freshly refurbished clock struck one for the first time since shedding its scaffolding.  

“To hear the clock ringing again is like hearing an old friend singing,” said city mayor Carol Swain: “Every day when I go to my office, I can see the clock tower from St Austell Street, rising over the roofs of the other buildings, and I think: ‘What a wonderful thing we’ve done’.” 

The mayor was among a group of civic dignitaries and journalists who were permitted access to the clock tower last Tuesday, for an unusual view from within.  

City Hall and the clock tower were badly damaged by fire in 1914, which left only the side of the tower that faces Boscawen Street remaining in its original granite form. The three lost sides were reconstructed using reinforced concrete and rendered to give the appearance, from street level, of granite.   

However, the steel framework used within the tower more than a century ago became badly corroded, to the point that there were fears it would fall through into the council chambers below.  

Following consultation with Historic England, work began in August 2022 to dismantle and repair the tower, part of a £1.7-million programme jointly funded by Cornwall Council and Truro City Council.  

While some might have baulked at the challenge, Devoran-based Fox Construction Solutions seized it with both hands. From October 5, 2022, the granite façade that fronts Boscawen Street was photographed, recorded, labelled, deconstructed and moved carefully off-site while repairs took place.  

The clocks and bells were removed and given some TLC of their own; and by Christmas, the towers were down and the steel beams exposed for repair work and reconstruction. Grit-blasted cast concrete was used to give the appearance of granite on the three missing sides. 

“I’ve had many sleepless nights,” admits Shaun Stevens. “It’s been a challenge, that’s for sure.” 

That included being positioned 27m above Truro’s main shopping street with pedestrians below, ensuring safety without blocking access or impeding enjoyment of the city centre’s amenities. 

“You have to keep the city alive,” said Mr Stevens. “Heritage work is something we enjoy doing, but don’t often get the chance so we jumped at it. It’s great to think that in years to come, our kids and grandchildren will look at that and know that we were involved. We’re proud to have been part of it.” 

The work began after the completion of the Hall for Cornwall’s major refurbishment project next door. “I feel elated to celebrate this magnificent building,” said Cllr Swain. “The work that has been done makes it fit for purpose in the 21st century.  

“Heritage is so important. You can read Truro’s history in its buildings - in Boscawen Street alone, there is a variety dating back to different eras, all so different from one another. Just up the street from City Hall is a Brutalist building, with other listed examples in between.  

“It’s what makes Truro special. It’s important for us and future generations – it’s the knowledge of what it means to be a Truronian. But while I’m keen to keep heritage, it’s not as a museum piece – it must have a purpose.”  

As we climbed the familiar steps inside the City Hall, it was evident there is yet more work to do. The city council moved out three years ago, and the interior fell into a state of disrepair. 

“This is being costed for future work,” said Richard Budge, acting proper officer for Truro City Council. “We’re waiting for it to be officially signed back to us, and hope to move back in and use it as our main civic site. The mayor can have functions in the mayor’s parlour, and council chamber meetings can take place in the committee rooms.  

“However, as a council, we have grown considerably in what we deliver, and there might not be sufficient space for all the staff.”  

We worked our way up to the tower, walking through roof space where Mr Budge pointed out historic cinders from the 1914 fire, and more recent graffiti from former caretaker David Thomas, one of several to fulfil the arduous task of winding the clock by hand every couple of days. 

“It was quite a workout, and it would often be late and dark – quite an eerie place to be,” said Mr Budge, who has undertaken the duties himself. As well as winding the clock 74 turns, the hour strike needed 52 turns of its own. Thankfully, it is now fully automated, although the weights and pulleys are still in place.  

Guest of honour was town crier Lionel Knight, whose £10,000 donation kickstarted the refurbishment project in 2021. Lionel announced the clock’s new lease of life with a characteristically full-throated “oyez!” 

“It’s important to have a town clock,” he said. “Wherever you go, you see them, and yet people were talking about not putting this one back. That did it for me. I’m Truro born and bred, and I had to do it. I wanted to give something back to the city, and it’s absolutely fantastic to hear it ringing again. I feel very emotional.” 

Back on the ground, we listened, misty-eyed, to a full round of Westminster chimes as the clock struck two.  

“It has been bleak for a year, all boarded up,” said Mr Budge. “It’s nice to see it back in time for Christmas. To hear it strike on New Year’s Eve will be a wonderful moment.”