The Hastings Clock

The Hastings Clock is a commemorative clock from 1912, featuring a mechanism by John Mason of Rotherham and a frame by Macfarlane and Co of Glasgow, commissioned by James Hastings. In 1969, it was moved to Walker Place, Rotherham, but was restored and returned to its original location in November 2013.

The clock is made of cast iron, painted dark blue with gold detailing. It has a deep, tapered, octagonal pedestal. Above a plinth, there are eight clock faces surrounded by a band of quatrefoil decoration. On the north-east side, there is a large semi-circular horse trough, now used as a planter, supported by three sculpted legs resembling fetlocks and hooves. At the same level, there are small suspended drinking basins, also now planters, on both the south-east and north-west sides, each featuring a trefoil shape cast in the panel between the basin and the tap above.

Above the quatrefoil band, the clock has eight chamfered faces and eight small rectangular panels with alternating triangular gablets. Six of these panels have blank arch and spandrel frames. The panel above the horse trough bears the inscription: "TO COMMEMORATE THE / CORONATION OF / KING GEORGE V / AND / QUEEN MARY," while the panel 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 of the column, there are four pendant lights on decorative brackets. The column supports a square clock with faces on all four sides, featuring a dentil cornice with acorn corner finials and an elaborate openwork corona topped with a ball finial. The circular clock faces display Roman numerals against an opaque white glass background, complemented by decorative metalwork spandrels. A chiming bell is suspended in the centre of the corona.