Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower

The Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower is a clock tower at the University of Birmingham in the English city of Birmingham. Red brick walls rise from Chancellor's Court, and four large clock faces with copper hands look out in different directions.

Construction began in 1900 and finished in 1908 to honor Joseph Chamberlain, who served as the first chancellor of the newly founded university. Chamberlain had previously been Lord Mayor of Birmingham and worked to establish the institution.

Students avoid walking through the archway while the bells ring, following a campus tradition passed down through generations. The sound of the chimes marks each hour and shapes the rhythm of daily life at the university.

The tower is visible from many points across campus and serves as a landmark for visitors finding their way. A lift in the southwest corner reaches the upper floors when access is permitted.

Workers built the structure without external scaffolding up to the balcony level, working upward from the inside. The clock mechanism and bells were supplied by Joyce of Whitchurch, a firm known for precision work.

Location: Birmingham

Inception: 1908

GPS coordinates: 52.44990,-1.93070

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:27