Haymarket Memorial Clock Tower, Leicester

The Haymarket Memorial Clock Tower is one of Leicester’s most recognizable landmarks and a favored meeting spot. Positioned near the city center within the ring road, it marks the convergence of five key streets: Gallowtree Gate, Humberstone Gate, Belgrave Gate, Church Gate, and Eastgates, with Cheapside also nearby. For generations, it has been the go-to rendezvous point in the heart of the city.

Before the Clock Tower’s construction, the site housed an Assembly Room built in 1750, later repurposed into shops in 1805. Over time, it gained a reputation as "the Haymarket Obstruction," prompting local property owners to campaign for its removal. The building was demolished in 1862, though the hay market remained in place until it was eventually moved to Humberstone Gate.

Clearing the site left a broad open space that became increasingly difficult for pedestrians to navigate due to heavy traffic. Meanwhile, plans for an illuminated clock at the London Road and Belvoir Street junction sparked local businesses to petition for a striking alternative: a grand clock with lamps and a statue of Sir Thomas White, a well-known local benefactor.

Completed in 1868, the Clock Tower was built primarily from Ketton stone, with a Mountsorrel granite base. It features polished Peterhead granite and serpentine columns, while its statues were sculpted from Portland stone. Notably, the tower was erected above the intersection of two major city sewers, which had to be modified before construction could begin.

As a memorial, the Clock Tower honors four notable figures from Leicester’s history, each represented by a statue at its corners: Simon de Montfort, William Wyggeston (spelled 'Wigston' on the tower), Thomas White, and Gabriel Newton.