Albert Memorial Clock

A contested design

The tower came out of a design competition in 1865, won by the architect W. J. Barre. The contract was first quietly handed to the firm of Lanyon, Lynn and Lanyon instead, but public outcry saw it returned to Barre. Fitzpatrick Brothers built it, and it was completed in 1869 in a mix of French and Italian Gothic styles.

Why it leans

Queen's Square stands on land reclaimed from the marshy ground around the River Farset, and the tower was set on wooden piles. Over time it settled and tilted, and some of the ornament at the top, along with a canopy over the statue, was taken off in 1924. A multimillion-pound restoration completed in 2002 strengthened the foundations, replaced decaying carvings and cleaned the stone.

Seeing it

Look on the western face for the statue of Albert in the robes of a Knight of the Garter, sculpted by S. F. Lynn. The clock is a natural starting point for exploring the Cathedral Quarter, a few minutes' walk north, and the riverside walk along the Lagan is close by. The surrounding streets have some of the city's best-known pubs and restaurants.

Highlights

• 113-foot sandstone clock tower completed in 1869
• Leans about four feet off vertical
• Designed by W. J. Barre in a French and Italian Gothic style
• Statue of Prince Albert in Garter robes
• Restored in a project completed in 2002

Good to know

• The clock stands in the open in Queen's Square, so it can be seen at any time.
• The Cathedral Quarter is a few minutes' walk north.

Frequently asked questions