One of the most notable landmarks at Plymouth Naval Base has been given a voice for the first time in some 50 years.
The historic clock tower in HMS Drake at Devonport, which has remained silent for about 50 years, is chiming again thanks to some clever detective work and determination by HMS Drake staff.
Originally built in 1896, the final piece of what was then Keyham Barracks, the clock tower at HMS Drake has been a prominent feature of the Naval Base and indeed Plymouth for well over 115 years at Drake Gate on Saltash Road.
In its day hundreds of dockyards workers and sailor would set their own clocks by the chimes from the bell, indeed many shifts and ‘watches’ were signified by its chimes which regimentally sounded at regular periods on and between the hour.
During the First and Second World War the clock tower also provided a home to messenger pigeons who provided a vital service of delivering secure messages between the dockyard and the then Admiralty HQ at Mount Wise in Devonport.
Changes in signalling protocol meant the bell went silent in the early 1960’s where it has remained until renovation work by Interserve - the Royal Navy’s industrial partner in Devonport Naval Base.
Simon Cowls, of Interserve, said that during restoration work on the external façade of the clock tower they discovered the bell and infrastructure was virtually intact from its original installation.
He explained: “With help from campanologists from the diocese of Truro it was found the bell and mechanism could be brought back into service, and that the original manufacturer ‘Gillet and Johnson’ of Croydon - the foremost clock manufacturer of their time - was still trading and had also produced clocks for Windsor Castle, St James Palace and Hampton Court.’’
From the company’s records they confirmed from the original ‘ledger’ the order from 1896 was to ‘install one clock, bell and mechanism for the sum of £180’. The company was therefore, re-employed to restore the clock and bell to their former glory.
Commodore Ian Shipperley, Naval Base Commander, climbed the tower to inspect the restoration work. He said: “It is good news that a prominent piece of Naval architectural heritage in HMS Drake and this part of Plymouth is back in working order.’’
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