The Clock Tower, now a familiar landmark,
was built in 1923 as a war memorial to commemorate the local
people who had given their lives in the 1914-18 War.
On the heaviest bell with which the hours
are struck is cast the following quotation, “At the going down
of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them”. Over the
door is a bronze tablet bearing the inscription “To the honour
and everlasting memory of the soldiers, sailors and nurses of
this District, who gave their lives for their King and Country
in the Great War 1914-18. Bronze plates on the Tower record the
names of the 106 men and 1 woman to whose memory the Tower is
erected. A further 51 names were later added to commemorate
those lost during the 2nd World War.
The Tower itself was funded by public
subscription on land granted by R.H.R. Rimington-Wilson of
Broomhead Hall. At a later date the surrounding field was
purchased and now forms the memorial gardens, locally known as
the Clock Tower Gardens. The site is a major landscape
historical feature within the valley and is seen by many
visitors to the Town.
Stocksbridge Town Council have a
partnership agreement with Sheffield City Council to maintain
the Clock Tower Gardens. Recently the partnership have
developed a 5 year action plan for the maintenance and
refurbishment of the Gardens.
Work is ongoing on improvements to the current
maintenance contract and refurbishment work has commenced with
the planting of a floral shield bearing the name of the Town.
Update:
Update: March 2006
Following a meeting with SCC Officers the Town Council are to
continue with the existing maintenance agreement for a further
year, with quarterly reviews. Work has already commenced
on a boxed hedge to run alongside the bottom of the gardens for
public safety. A large amount of pruning work has also
occurred on the wall parallel to Nanny Hill. It is hoped
that further work will bring about marked improvements to the
gardens.
Update: Nov 2005
At November's Town Council meeting Cllr. Martin Davis
reported on the poor state of the Gardens. It was resolved
by the Town Council to serve notice to SCC that the Town Council
wish to terminate the contract with themselves and seek
permission to enter into a partnership with a private contractor
to carry out the works required to make the Gardens a fitting
tribute.
(Historical information supplied by Stocksbridge
and District History Society)
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