Bells are set to ring out once again over Truro this week with the restoration of the landmark historic clock tower in the city.

The clock tower on the Truro City Council building on Boscawen Street  was in such poor condition it needed to be dismantled and reconstructed.

Falmouth Packet: The bells are fully refurbished and were lifted into position with their new steel supporting frame work.The bells are fully refurbished and were lifted into position with their new steel supporting frame work. (Image: Cornwall Council)

Following the completion of the work by Fox Construction Solutions the achievement will be officially marked on Tuesday by the Mayor of Truro, Councillor Carol Swain.

The scaffolding has been removed and the refurbished bells are in position and ready to ring out again over the city.    

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.    At the time, the three lost sides were reconstructed using reinforced concrete and were rendered to give the appearance, from street level, of granite. 

 The steelwork used within the tower to create this façade more than a century ago became badly corroded over time. 

Falmouth Packet: The bells are fully refurbished and were lifted into position with their new steel supporting frame workThe bells are fully refurbished and were lifted into position with their new steel supporting frame work (Image: Cornwall Council)

After consulting with Historic England, specialists Fox Construction Solutions started the work, jointly funded by Cornwall Council and Truro City Council, to dismantle and repair the tower in August 2022 following the completion of the Hall for Cornwall’s major refurbishment project.      

David Harris, Portfolio Holder for Resources at Cornwall Council, said: “The reinstallation of the refurbished bells and the completed restoration of the clock tower, clock mechanism and faces means that this landmark building is ready to last another 100 years and more.”

Truro City Mayor, Councillor Carol Swain, said: “The Municipal Building and clock tower is an iconic feature of Truro’s rich heritage, as well as being the home of Truro City Council, so to see the tower brought back to its former glory to be enjoyed by future generations, is wonderful.

"It’s been a real team effort with Cornwall Council, Fox Construction Solutions and the City Council working well together. I would particularly like to thank our Town Crier Lionel Knight and his wife Carole who provided additional funding to support the project.”