Stonebow clock in tick-tock condition once again.

The historic Stonebow clock on the Guildhall has been successfully repaired and is now telling the right time more than twice a day for city centre visitors. 

The Stonebow has kept the people of the city informed of the time for more than 300 years – a sundial blew down in a storm in 1715 before the first clock was installed in 1835 and illuminated by gas.

The current clock was gifted to the city in 1888 and has been out of order since last summer. Some of the components of the clock date back to the 1835 original making it one of the oldest public clocks in the country.

“Due to its age and nature, when parts go wrong the replacements can be quite difficult to find. So, whenever a piece fails, we need to have one specially manufactured, as is currently the case,” said a City of Lincoln Council spokesperson.

“Following previous attempts that uncovered further issues with the complex mechanism, specialist engineers have now completed the necessary work using custom-made components. Given that some parts of the mechanism date back to the original 1835 installation, this has been a very delicate and thorough process.

“We know how much this treasured clock means to both residents and visitors, and we would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while the repairs were being carried out. This timepiece has been a fixture in the city for nearly two centuries, and we’re proud to see it back in full working order.”