Popular landmarks in days of yore

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Clock towers that are now mostly admired for their artistic creation once served an important purpose.
Till early 20th century, most people did not have watches or clocks.

The first clock didn’t have a face, but was solely a striking clock, which sounded the bells to call the surrounding community to work or prayer.

Clock towers were placed at strategic locations of the towns and were the tallest structures, say historians.

Clock towers were first installed in Chennai during the British era. The oldest one is the 160-year-old P. Orr and Sons.

Some of the clock towers in Chennai such as Royapettah clock tower and Mint clock tower are popular landmarks.

“We have installed over 70 clock towers in Chennai. Royapettah tower clock, Mint tower clock, the ones on Sterling Towers and Spencer’s Plaza are our handiwork.

We made a lot of clocks between 1940s and 1960s,” said Mr M.M.J. Namazi, owner of Gani and Sons, one of the oldest watchmakers in the city.

“Tower clocks continue to be a utility at public places. The demand for tower clocks has increased over the last five years. We get a lot of orders from educational institutions and corporate houses,” he added.

“Clock towers are historic symbols. They represent a particular period. A clock tower has got a heritage value to remind people that there was a time when people used to look at it to read the time. ,” said Theodore Baskaran, a noted historian.

“Even today, the chime from a clock tower creates awareness of time among commuters who plan their day accordingly,” said Mr Vincent D’Souza, editor-cum-publisher, Mylapore Times.