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An original clock tower was built by architect John Middleton in 1847. It was a landmark for approaching ships and just beneath the clockfaces there was a little balcony for a look-out.
Although the tower had four sides, there were only three clockfaces. The clock was paid for by public subscription. Either an ironworks or a shipyard refused to contribute because it didn't want its workers clockwatching.
During a rebuild of Middlesbrough's dock either around 1870 or as late as 1903 this replacement was built. The tower doubled as a clocktower and a watertower to provide the hydraulic power to operate the dock gates and cranes. This dual use led to its shape: a bulky bottom to house the water, and a slender top for the clock.
The tower was restored in 2005 as part of the Middlehaven development.