Clock Tower

CLOCK TOWER, THE FRIARY

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1218909
Date first listed:
06-Mar-1970
List Entry Name:
Clock Tower
Statutory Address:
CLOCK TOWER, THE FRIARY
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Date:
1999-08-15
Reference:
IOE01/01481/22
Rights:
© Mr Geoffrey Carver. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1218909
Date first listed:
06-Mar-1970
List Entry Name:
Clock Tower
Statutory Address 1:
CLOCK TOWER, THE FRIARY

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
CLOCK TOWER, THE FRIARY

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:
Staffordshire
District:
Lichfield (District Authority)
Parish:
Lichfield
National Grid Reference:
SK 11360 09121

Details

LICHFIELD

SK1109SW THE FRIARY 1094-1/7/231 (South side) 06/03/70 Clock Tower

II

Clock tower. 1863, moved to present site 1928. By Joseph Potter Jnr. Ashlar with swept slate roof. 4-stage tower with pyramidal roof. Norman style. Lowest stage has cornice with zig-zag and weathering over; east face has round-headed entrance of one order with zig-zag to arch and enriched tympanum, door with enriched strap hinges; plaque above records history of the Crucifix conduit, 1201-1863; to south a bronze plaque recording gift of the Friary estate to the City Council; to west a plaque recording the removal of the tower from its orginal site; to north a quatrefoil panel recording foundation of the conduit with flanking round-headed niches formerly with drinking fountains, that to left with scalloped bowl, that to right shallower, bowl gone, 2 round-headed lights above with grilles. 2nd stage has cornice with weathering over; to 3 faces a 3-light blind window with colonnettes, enriched arches and glazed slits; similar shorter 5-light window above with zig-zag sill band and 2 slits; to west face 3 single-chamfered lights. 3rd stage has round clock face to each face. Top stage has nook shafts and corbel table, bell-opening of 4 lights with lourvres to each face. Roof with finial. The clock tower was built at the corner of The Friary and Bird Street on the site of the Crucifix Conduit, which was built for the city c1201 by the Guild of SS Mary and John the Baptist, whose assets were transferred in 1545 to the Conduits Lands Trust, who built the tower over the redundant conduit. The tower was dismantled and rebuilt on its present site when The Friary was made. The clock tower is a notable landmark in the city. (Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Staffordshire: London: 1974-: P.192; Laithwaite P: The History of the Conduit Lands Trust 1546-1946: Lichfield: 1947-: P.19, 51; Clayton H: Cathedral City: Lichfield: 1977-: P.105-7).

Listing NGR: SK1136009121

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
382799
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Laithwaite, P, The History of the Conduit Lands Trust 1546-1946, (1947), 19, 51
Clayton, H, Cathedral City, (1977), 105-7
Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Staffordshire, (1974), 192

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Clock Tower

Map

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100024900.© British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2026. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006.

End of official list entry

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