Clock Tower

The Albert Clock is a clock tower memorial in Barnstaple in Devon to Albert, Prince Consort, the husband of Queen Victoria. It has been listed Grade II at the National Heritage List for England considering 1988. Located in The Square in Barnstaple, the tower become constructed in 1862 at the proposal of the then Mayor of Barnstaple, John Norrington, following the loss of life of Prince Albert within the previous year. The tower changed into paid for via public subscription with a number of the cash being raised for the supply of a ingesting fountain. The original layout become for a tower without a clock.

At its solemn determination rite in 1862 surrounded through nearby dignitaries the clock's pendulum was set to swing at 11.00 p.m., the hour Prince Albert had died. At the identical time the water commenced to drift from the fountain. As Mayor Norrington, a teetotaller, stepped forward to take the first drink from the fountain a person threw a cupful of that was found to be gin into the water. Norrington was outraged at this indignity to himself, to the Queen and to the memory of Prince Albert. An investigation found out that the mystery guy was John Baker, the owner of the Mermaid Inn and a nearby Tory councillor.