Hull's golden ball ready to drop once again

A golden time ball will return to the top of Hull's Guildhall next month after undergoing repair work.

The sphere which is mounted on the clock tower was traditionally used by ships to set their clocks and is supposed to drop at 13:00 BST each day.

Hull City Council said the time ball, which it claims is the only one of its kind in the UK, would be reinstalled on 1 August.

Council leader Mike Ross said: "We look forward to seeing the time ball back where it belongs, continuing its historic role for generations to come."

A road closure on Lowgate will be in place from 08:00 to 16:00 BST on the day of the work to allow the time ball to be put back safely, with internal works taking place the following week.

The ball underwent a £452,000 restoration in 2023 but was removed in July last year by specialist contractors after it stopped working.

The timekeeping mechanism was described by HCC as "highly complex" and it had been fitted with upgraded parts to ensure its "long-term reliability".

The costs of the repairs have been covered by the contractor.

The 7st 8lb (50kg) ball was broken for more than a century before it was refurbished in 2023. It was first installed at the Guildhall in 1918 and is covered in 23.5 carat gold leaf.

Paul Litchfield, from Smith of Derby, said: "We are proud to have restored Hull's Guildhall time ball, a truly unique and technically remarkable piece of engineering.

"Because of its bespoke design and complex levitation system, diagnosing and resolving the issue required detailed expertise and specially manufactured components."

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