The Hastings Clock

Commemorative clock of 1912, with a mechanism by John Mason of Rotherham, and frame by Macfarlane and Co of Glasgow; for James Hastings. Moved to Walker Place, Rotherham, in 1969. Restored and returned to its original location in November 2013.

MATERIALS: cast iron (painted dark blue with gold detailing).

DESCRIPTION: not inspected, information from other sources.

The clock has a deep, tapered, octagonal pedestal. Above a plinth are eight faces with a band of quatrefoil decoration. Attached on the north-east side is a large semi-circular horse trough (now a planter) supported by three legs of sculpted fetlocks and hooves. At the same level there is a small, suspended drinking basin (now also a planter) on both the south-east and north-west sides, each with a trefoil shape cast in the panel between the basin and the projecting tap above. Above the quatrefoil band are eight chamfered faces and eight small rectangular panels with alternating triangular gablets. Six of the panels have blank arch and spandrel frames. The panel above the horse trough has a raised letter inscription: TO COMMEMORATE THE / CORONATION OF / KING GEORGE V / AND / QUEEN MARY and that above the south-east drinking basin states: PRESENTED BY / JAMES HASTINGS / OF ROTHERHAM. A quatrefoil column with a moulded base and an enriched foliate capital stands on the pedestal. At the midpoint are four pendant lights on decorative brackets and the column supports a square clock with faces to all four sides and a dentil cornice with acorn corner finials surmounted by an elaborate openwork corona terminating in a ball finial. The circular clock faces have Roman numerals with an opaque white glass background and decorative metalwork spandrels. A chiming bell is suspended in the centre of the corona.