Sculpture and mosaic portrait of Victoria, Clock Tower
John Johnson (d. 1920)
1888 (to commemorate Queen Victoria's 1887 Golden Jubilee); restored 2002
Other views
Photograph and text by Jacqueline Banerjee 2006.
A letter on file at RIBA (the Royal Insitute of British Architects) explains that the extent of this John Johnson's practice, and "the fact that he had previously worked in Brighton on a public project" (the Madeira Road improvements there, 1883), "make the attribution very probable" (Biographical File no. 30). According to Bob Speel's site, the tower is made "of pink granite and limestone, with corroded limestone figures at each corner, and medallion mosaics of Victoria, Albert and the Prince and Princess of Wales." The orb mechanism, which rises to mark the hour, was by Marcus Volk. The tower is strategically placed at a crossroads halfway down the road which runs from the station to the seafront.
Last modified 24 July 2009