Albert Memorial Clock, Belfast
The Albert Memorial Clock, often simply called the Albert Clock, is one of Belfast鈥檚 most recognisable landmarks. Perched in Queen鈥檚 Square at the east end of High Street, this Gothic Revival clock tower was built between 1865 and 1869 as a memorial to Prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria. Designed by the accomplished architect W. J. Barre, also famed for Belfast's Ulster Hall, it stands approximately 113 feet (34 meters) tall.
Constructed of pinkish Scrabo sandstone, the tower blends French and Italian Gothic styles, adorned with flying buttresses, heraldic lions, angels, gargoyles, floral motifs, and crowned by an ornate octagonal belfry. A striking life-size statue of Prince Albert in the robes of a Knight of the Garter, sculpted by S. F. Lynn, stands on the west face. Inside, a two-tonne bell cast by Francis Moore could once be heard up to 8 miles away.
One of the tower鈥檚 most intriguing quirks is its lean鈥攁n eastward tilt of about four feet鈥攅arning it the affectionate nickname 鈥淏elfast鈥檚 Leaning Tower of Pisa.鈥� The tilt resulted from the tower being built on reclaimed, marshy ground near the River Farset, supported on timber piles. Ornamental pinnacles and the statue canopy were removed in 1924 to ease stress, and a substantial restoration between 2000 and 2002 reinforced the foundations and reinstated lost carvings.
Today, the Albert Clock stands as a poetic fusion of Victorian craftsmanship, civic pride, and idiosyncratic charm. It survived damage from an IRA bomb in 1992, and its tilted stance and intricate stonework make it a delightful must-see for architecture buffs, history lovers, and photographers alike. Whether admired by day or illuminated at night, it richly rewards a stroll through Belfast鈥檚 Cathedral Quarter.
Constructed of pinkish Scrabo sandstone, the tower blends French and Italian Gothic styles, adorned with flying buttresses, heraldic lions, angels, gargoyles, floral motifs, and crowned by an ornate octagonal belfry. A striking life-size statue of Prince Albert in the robes of a Knight of the Garter, sculpted by S. F. Lynn, stands on the west face. Inside, a two-tonne bell cast by Francis Moore could once be heard up to 8 miles away.
One of the tower鈥檚 most intriguing quirks is its lean鈥攁n eastward tilt of about four feet鈥攅arning it the affectionate nickname 鈥淏elfast鈥檚 Leaning Tower of Pisa.鈥� The tilt resulted from the tower being built on reclaimed, marshy ground near the River Farset, supported on timber piles. Ornamental pinnacles and the statue canopy were removed in 1924 to ease stress, and a substantial restoration between 2000 and 2002 reinforced the foundations and reinstated lost carvings.
Today, the Albert Clock stands as a poetic fusion of Victorian craftsmanship, civic pride, and idiosyncratic charm. It survived damage from an IRA bomb in 1992, and its tilted stance and intricate stonework make it a delightful must-see for architecture buffs, history lovers, and photographers alike. Whether admired by day or illuminated at night, it richly rewards a stroll through Belfast鈥檚 Cathedral Quarter.
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Albert Memorial Clock on Map
Sight Name: Albert Memorial Clock
Sight Location: Belfast, Ireland (See walking tours in Belfast)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Belfast, Ireland (See walking tours in Belfast)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Belfast, Ireland
Create Your Own Walk in Belfast
Creating your own self-guided walk in Belfast is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Belfast Victorian Architecture Jewels
Described as 鈥渕odestly scaled, undemonstrative, somewhat solid in aspect, and usually restrained (sometimes even austere) in its use of external decoration鈥�, the urban landscape of Belfast has been influenced by the demands of shipbuilding and linen industry, much as transitioning between culture, arts, commerce, and education. Still, the architectural spectrum of the city is quite broad and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Belfast Introduction Walking Tour
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Sitting on the banks of the River Lagan where it meets the Irish Sea, the city owes its name to this coastal condition, with "Belfast"... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
Sitting on the banks of the River Lagan where it meets the Irish Sea, the city owes its name to this coastal condition, with "Belfast"... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
The Troubles and Peace Process Landmarks
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles