Time Ball Buildings, Leeds

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Time Ball Buildings, Leeds
Time Ball Buildings, Briggate, Leeds (11th April 2011) 003.jpg
Time Ball Buildings, Leeds
General information
Address24, 25 and 26, Briggate, Leeds
Town or city Leeds
Coordinates 53°47′43.79″N1°32′33.77″W / 53.7954972°N 1.5427139°W / 53.7954972; -1.5427139
Designations Grade II* listed [1]

Time Ball Buildings, Leeds is a Grade II* listed building in Briggate, Leeds.

History

The building dates from the early 19th century and was used by a variety of businesses, acting as a distillery, saddlery, barber and perfumier and stationer. By 1869 the premises were uninhabited. By 1872 a watchmaker by the name of John Dyson [2] occupied No. 26. By 1890 he occupied No.s 24 and 25 as well.

The elaborately decorated front dates over numbers 25 and 26 dates from 1872 and over 26 from 1900. The distinctive features of the building are the gilded time ball, and the cantilevered clock, surmounted by a figure of Father Time carved by John Wormald Appleyard. A second clock by Potts of Leeds was installed in 1910.

The gilded time ball mechanism had a connection to the time equipment at Greenwich and the time ball dropped at exactly 1pm each day.

The building was restored in 1993.

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References

  1. Historic England, "Time Ball Buildings (1255855)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 7 January 2017
  2. Baldwin, Katie (21 July 2005). "Time has moved on for 'Leeds Clock'". Yorkshire Evening Post . Retrieved 7 February 2017.