Work to restore Smethwick's historic Council House is now complete. The Grade II-listed building, which dates from the early 1900s, has had its prominent clock tower refurbished and its stunning terracotta facade restored.
The clock tower's broken timberwork has been fixed, the metalwork on the clock face repainted and the tower itself has been returned to its original colour scheme.
The project also included the replacement of more than 100 damaged terracotta blocks, the pitched roof has been re-slated and flat roofs replaced. The building's ornate roof domes have been redecorated and railings have been repaired.
The building in the town's High Street has been used as council offices for more than a century and is visited by hundreds of people each week to access council services.
Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for core council services and culture Councillor Steve Trow said: "It's fantastic to see this building restored to its former glory. Over the years, time and weather had caused the facade to deteriorate, lead had been stolen from the roof and the clock tower had been exposed to the elements.
"It's a stunning building used by our staff and residents week in, week out, and it is only right that we've done this work to preserve it for decades to come."
The building's clock is known as a rare “three-train Smith of Derby flat-bed with gravity escapement” and regarded as an important piece of horological history.
Clock enthusiasts have visited it to admire its workings – as most of its kind were converted with electricity many years ago.
