St. Albans Clocktower of Clock House was built between 1403 abd 1412 to the design of Thomas Wolvey, one time royal mason, as a symbol of the townspeople’s desire for independence from the Abbot’s rule. It is 23.5m (77ft) high and built of flint and originally clunch (a local form of hard chalk). The original large bell within the tower (which wighs a ton and sounds a natural F note) was cast at Aldgate, London, by William and Robert Burford between 1371 and 1418. It is inscribe (in Latin) “My name is Gabriel sent from Heaven”.

Timepieces were rare when the tower was built and a clock was useful in regulating the life of the town. the bell also ran the curfew at 4 am and between 8 and 9 pm and was used to sound the alarm during any fire or incident within the town In 1700 the corporation resolved to pull down the Clocktower (which fortunately never happened) and build a new market house.*

*from a signboard next to the Clocktower

The carpet bedding can be found next to the orchard house and in summer months is planted with diminutive foliage plants in geometric patterns. The plants are clipped fortnightly using sheep sheers to form a flat carpet like surface. Each bed requires 10,000 plants which are raised in the nursery at Cragside. During autumn the beds are planted with tulips, pansies and polyanthus in order to provide spring colour.

The last photograph is taken from the Dahlia walk and you can just see the carpet bedding in the background. Behind that the clock tower peeps out from in amongst the trees.

The clock tower originates from the 1860s and was the estate time piece and the pay office.  Staff received their weekly pay in small, numbered, timber boxes about 4in (10cm) square. At the peak of construction there were more than 300 staff working at Cragside: gardeners, stone masons, carpenters, gamekeepers and labourers, all working a twelve-hour day. Under the watchful eye of William Bertram, the Estate Manager, this simple system ensured that all were properly paid. *

*From Cragside Garden Leaflet.