News

The most iconic timepiece in Bolton is back.

The timeball at the top of the Prestons clock tower was officially switched on at 12.55pm on Saturday 1st November 2008 by Mrs Ruth Porritt who won our competition in the Bolton Evening News.

Cheers rang out as the ball rose for the first time in more than 10 years at 1.05pm. It will now rise on a daily basis at 12.55pm and fall at 1pm.

Store manager Sue Hurst said: “We are giving back to Bolton a piece of its architectural heritage. The timeball had to be taken down 10 years ago due to damage, but after undergoing such a major refurbishment, this is the last piece of the puzzle, and the store is back to how it used to be.”

The original timeball was positioned on the tower in 1913 and signalled the time to mill workers for many years.

Close up TimeBall

Made from spun aluminium with gold leaf and at a circumference of 2.36m, the TimeBall has been manufactured by Peter Dooley Design Ltd.

Karl Massey, Managing director, said: “It’s an historic day for Bolton. Having undergone a £1 million refurbishment programme to bring this exceptional building to its former glory by completely and sympathetically rebuilding the interior, the new timeball is the icing on the cake.”

TimeBall at Prestons of Bolton

It took two years of planning and structural renovation of the clock tower to prepare for the new timeball. The only other remaining timeballs in the UK are at Greenwich and Deal in Kent.

Mrs Porritt, aged 70, from Deane, said: “I feel wonderful. It’s 50 years since I got my wedding ring from Prestons and I think the store is fantastic.”

To mark the event, Prestons of Bolton arranged for Old Father Time to visit the town centre, where he and his helpers sold raffle tickets to support the Samantha Dickinson Brain Tumour Trust, the largest brain tumour charity in the UK.

Old Father Time