City's 'much-loved' time ball back in place
BBCHull's unique golden time ball has returned to the top of the city's Guildhall.
The timepiece, which rises every day at 13:00 BST, has been under repair for the last 13 months.
The work has been undertaken and paid for by contractor Smith of Derby, after the time ball stopped working last year following its refurbishment, which was completed in 2023.
Councillor Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, said: "The Guildhall time ball is a much‑loved feature of our city's skyline and an important symbol of Hull's maritime heritage."
He added: "I'm pleased that the essential repairs have been successfully completed and that the time ball will soon return to full operation."
The time ball is due to be fully operational following testing taking place this week.
Lowgate was closed for several hours while the time ball was installed.
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.
Originally, the ball dropped at 13:00 each day to allow ships on the River Hull and the Humber estuary to set their clocks.
It stands on the Guildhall's clock tower 196ft (60m) above the ground - ensuring it is visible to vessels.
It cost Hull City Council £452,000 to restore and replace the time ball.
Paul Litchfield, from Smith of Derby, described the timepiece as a "truly unique and technically remarkable piece of engineering".
He said: "Our team has carried out extensive repairs and testing to ensure the time ball is reliable and resilient well into the future.
"We are delighted to return it to the people of Hull and to play our part in preserving this important piece of the city's history."
Listen to highlights fromHull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North.
Download the BBC News app from the App Storefor iPhone and iPad orGoogle Play for Android devices
