Time for Chester

Chester’s Eastgate clock rightly gets all the attention when talking about time. Billed as the second most photographed clock in the country, there is no doubt it deserves the accolade and this month it has a digital enhancement using augmented reality, Re-designed by Nature will re-wild the iconic Eastgate Clock on your phone.

Since the end of last year though, there has been a notable absence at Chester Town Hall following the removal of the Town Hall clock for repairs. At a regular inspection visit clockmakers from Smith of Derby noted repairs and restoration were required to the dial works. The clock will now return on Sunday 27 February following the repairs.

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council said: “Having a clock this size repaired is not quite as easy as getting a watch or house clock mended. I’d like to thank Smith of Derby who were founded in 1856 making them slightly older than the Town Hall itself. It will be a welcome return; we’ve missed the Town Hall clock and it's good to have it back.”

Chester Town Hall was completed in 1869 and opened by the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII. The tower and spire are 160 feet tall with the clock tower being loosely based on the Cloth Hall in Ypres, the three clock faces were first installed in 1979.

Using augmented reality, Re-designed by Nature re-wilds the iconic Eastgate Clock on your phone. Watch plants and animals take back the landmark around them, transforming it into a rural idyll. The gentle sights and sounds of nature counteract the sounds of the city.

Jack Hardiker is an award-winning interdisciplinary artist, designer and storyteller. He works with both established and emergent artistic techniques to tell important stories in playful, memorable, and unexpected ways.

Visit:

https://www.visitcheshire.com/chester/springblooms/redesigned-by-nature