The aftermath of the demolition of Stirling's historic Christie Memorial Clock

Restoration of historic Christie Clock destroyed in botched repair job a 'commitment to the people of Stirling'

by · Daily Record

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Restoring Stirling’s historic Christie Clock is about “honouring our commitment to the people of Stirling”, the council’s deputy leader has said.

Councillors yesterday (Thursday) agreed to proceed with officers' recommendations to sympathetically rebuild the iconic landmark by restoring the column, plinth and clock head using “as much of the existing stonework as possible” at a full meeting of Stirling Council.

The sum to repair the clock will include the £678,460 cost, plus £95,000 in fees, £100,000 for contingency – totalling £873,460. Three other options were presented to councillors – costing £827,850, £808,753 and £33,800 respectively.

Conservation advisors have drawn up a delivery programme that would see the re-build of the city centre landmark undertaken in three phases, with the potential for completion by October 2026.

The C-listed Christie Clock – constructed in 1905 as a memorial to former Stirling Provost George Christie – was smashed to the ground in a botched repair job in September last year, leaving Stirling locals fuming over the manner in which the structure was brought down.

Video footage from that time appeared to show an excavator taking hits at the stone column, eventually crushing it – and the surrounding scaffolding – as an angry local shouts at workers.

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The crown, clock and column of the memorial - said to be structurally unstable - were gone with only the plinth remaining.

The clock face of the historic Christie Memorial Clock lies broken on the street
The remaining plinth of the historic Christie Clock in Park Terrace, Stirling (Image: Stirling Observer)

Photos showed crumbled stonework strewn across the street there.

Stirling Council Deputy Leader Gerry McGarvey said: “We appreciate the strength of feeling about what happened to this much-loved clock and the detailed report discussed today by full council laid out all the costings and processes for each option.

“It was incredibly difficult situation for everyone, but there was general consensus about honouring our commitment to the people of Stirling. Not everyone will agree with our decision at a time when Stirling Council, like other local authorities, faces a significant budget shortfall.

“I understand that, but we promised the people of Stirling a full reinstatement of the Christie Clock. We had an option to safeguard the plinth and undertake a re-build at a later date. That was not an acceptable course as costs would almost certainly increase.”

The council must now apply for retrospective Listed Building Consent for the previous demolition of the clock and planning permission for the proposed reconstruction.

The stonework from the clock was removed from site in September 2023 and has been kept in safe storage since.

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