Clock Towers – Travels with Ali

The Lens Artist Challenge this week is hosted by John, many thanks John for a look back through the archives.

Monument – a structure or building to commemorate a notable figure or event in history. It could be a statue or sculpture as long as it was built for remembrance. So when I looked up the provenance of my particular choices, I made sure the word monument was included in the description.

Clock Tower in Penang to commenorate Queen Victoria's diamond jubille

Queen Victoria Clock Tower, situated in George Town, Penang, Malaysia. It was built in 1900 and taking two years to complete. Standing 60ft tall, one foot for each year of her reign. Sadly she didn’t get to see this monument having passed away before completion. The Queen never set foot in Penang!

Obelisk standing where Great Fire of London started

The Monument built in 1677 to commemorate where the Great Fire of London started in 1666. A story which we are all familiar with. It began at a bakers owned by Thomas Farriner on Pudding Lane from an oven that was not properly extinguished. Sadly a man called Robert Hubert, a French Watchmaker was accused and confessed, probably tortured and then hanged. Mr. Farriner and his family signed depositions against Mr. Hubert, effectively signing his death warrant.

The iconic Clock Tower in Kowloon, Hong Kong built to commemorate the original site of the Kowloon-Canton Railway. The clock tower was completed in 1915. Building of the railway station started in 1906 on extensive reclaimed land and was completed in 1910. The first passenger services began on 1 October 1910. The last passenger train left the station on 29 November 1975.

Sacred heart of Jesus Statue, Mount Urgull

The Sacred Heart of Jesus monument situated on top of Mount Urgell in San Sebastian, Spain. Built primarily as a public expression of Catholic faith. Even though the monument was thought about in the 1920’s it wasn’t built until 1950. This was due to delays caused by the Spanish Civil War.

I walked up Mount Argull many years ago with my dear hubby and we somehow separated, maybe because he wouldn’t wait for me! I remember waiting at the bottom for him for many hours in a cafe, only to find him back at the hotel. Fireworks and explosions erupted, say no more.

I hope you’ve enjoyed some micro history lessons and maybe learnt something new.

I recently read a post by Anabel at the Glasgow Gallivanter all about clocks and clock towers and suggested that she should create a challenge. She has written some interesting facts which you can read on the link. I thought I would check my archives once again as I haven taken a fair few photos on my travels.

The former Kowloon Canton Railway Clock Tower. The railway station was open from 1916 until 1975 and the building later demolished. The clock tower was left standing after protests from The Heritage Society of Hong Kong. It is now a declared monument.

Royal Arcade, Melbourne. The most famous feature, the carved mythical figures of Gog and Magog, flanking Gaunt’s clock, which triggers the arms of the figures to strike bells each hour. There is a fascinating history behind Gog and Magog which can be found in the link.

St. Mary’s Church, Ely built in the 13th century with the tower added in the 14th century.

Albany Town Hall, Western Australia. The clock was started on 15 April 1891 at 3pm and made by William Potts of Leeds, England. Albany is the oldest settled town in Western Australia.

The iconic Spanish Bay Rolex Clock at Pebble Beach Golf Course, Monterey, California
I took this photo when we stopped here for lunch on our trip around the 17 Mile Drive in 2015.