Pierhead Clock

The Pierhead Building in Cardiff Bay is an iconic structure/landmark and was built by the Marquess of Bute in 1897 as his Docks office. It was built at the zenith of Tiger Bay’s prosperity derived from the export of Welsh Coal. It’s tall tower housed a turret clock and the mechanism was made by William Potts of Leeds. The clock structure was overseen by Baron Grimthorpe who had earlier designed the mechanism for Big Ben. The clock mechanism was removed in 1973 and acquired by a collector based in Alabama USA and he restored the workings. He then offered to sell the mechanism back to the City of Cardiff and the deal was completed in 2005. This project will contribute towards the restoration of the Pierhead Clock which will then be incorporated into a major public work of art in Cardiff, adjacent to the River Taff.