Overview
Ann Thwaytes funded Herne Bay Clock Tower in 1837, creating one of Britain's earliest purpose-built free-standing clock towers and a later war memorial.
Why it was made
Thwaytes gave the tower to the new resort so residents and visitors could share a public clock beside the sea.
People and events
Edwin James Dangerfield designed it; later townspeople added names and memorial features after the South African and world wars.
How it worked
Four clock faces made time visible along the promenade, while its height and pale stone gave the flat seafront a landmark.
What remains
The brick core, Portland-stone facing, clocks, deep vaulted foundations and later memorial inscriptions survive after restoration.
Why it mattered
It matters because an early civic timepiece became a focus for both Herne Bay's resort identity and public remembrance.
History checked 16 August 2026 against the named sources below.
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