Percy's Clock
The Birmingham Market Hall Clock Project
Registered Charity No. 1012871
This wonderful automaton clock started life in Birmingham's Imperial Arcade in Dale End. It was made by Messrs. Potts and Sons of Leeds in 1883 and consisted of a clock, an hour bell weighing three hundredweight and four quarter bells. These were struck on the hour and on the quarter by four figures made of oak - the largest some seven foot six inches high and the others over six feet tall - representing the Earl of Warwick, his Countess, his Constable and a Saracen.
Having fallen into disrepair it was renovated at the instigation of Alderman Percy Shurmer as a feature for the Market Hall in the Bull Ring. From then on it was nick-named, "Percy's Clock".
During World War Two, on the 25th August, a German incendiary bomb destroyed all but one bell. With the advent of the new Bull Ring development it seemed an ideal moment to try to get a replacement. In 1992 a Charitable Trust was set up, "BIRMINGHAM'S MARKET HALL CLOCK PROJECT" "Percy's Clock" was set up, the trustees being Joseph McKenna M.A. and Joseph Hunt M.A. with Bernard Juby as its Chairman. Various Lords Mayor of Birmingham have, during their terms of office, graciously agreed to be its Patron.
As a Registered Charity (Number 1012871) certain donations become eligible for tax relief.
All donations are gratefully received and acknowledged and may be paid direct into the Charity's account, number 7484427, made out to, "BIRMINGHAM MARKET HALL CLOCK PROJECT" via Lloyds TSB, 114 Colmore Row, Birmingham B3
This superb crowd-puller rightly deserves to chime again and, in doing so, bring a huge amount of pleasure to Brummies and visitors alike.
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