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Merewether Clock Tower

February 15, 2024

Merewether Clock Tower or Merewether Tower (Urdu: میری ویدر ٹاور)[2] is a neo-Gothic clocktower built during the Victorian era in Karachi, Pakistan.[3] The tower is a landmark in central Karachi, and is at the termini of two of the most important roads in central Karachi: Muhammad Ali Jinnah Road and I. I. Chundrigar Road. The tower used to mark the boundary of the city when arriving from the port at Kiamari,[4] and marked the dividing line between Karachi's Old Town and its newer European quarters to the east.[5] It currently is the westernmost point of the Serai Quarter.[6]

Merewether Clock Tower
میری ویدر ٹاور
General information
TypeMemorial and clocktower
Architectural styleGothic Revival
LocationSerai Quarter
Town or cityKarachi
CountryPakistan
Named forSir William Lockyer Merewether
Construction started1884
Opened1892
Height102 ft (31 m)[1]
Technical details
Floor area44 m (144 ft)
Design and construction
Structural engineerJames Strachan

History edit

Merewether Tower was raised by public subscription as a memorial for Sir William L. Merewether,[2] who served as Commissioner of Sindh from 1867 to 1877.[7] Designed by James Strachan, the Municipal Engineer of Karachi, the foundation stone was laid by the Governor of Bombay, Sir James Fergusson in 1884.[2] It was formally opened to the public in 1892 by the Commissioner in Sind, Sir Evan James,[2] at a total cost of 37,178 rupees.[8][9]

Architecture edit

Strachan designed the tower in the Gothic Revival style popular in Victorian England, to evoke the architecture of Medieval England (11th to 15th century CE). The architecture takes the form of an Eleanor cross.

The clocktower stands on a base of 44 feet square and rises to a height of 102 feet.[2] 4 clocks are situated at a height of 70 feet on each facade, with a bell that weighs 300 pounds that strikes on the hour.[10] Smaller bells weighing 100 pounds strike on the quarter-hour.[10]

It is made of local Gizri sandstone, and Star of David is also visible on its exterior.[8] The tower is decorated with delicate stonework,[11] which was carved by stonemasons of the Silawat community,[12] who are also known as Gazdars.

Significance edit

The tower used to mark the southern extent of the city when arriving from the port in Kiamari along Napier Mole Road.[4] It also serves as a marker of the dividing line between the Old Town from the new European Serai Quarters.[5] It is also located at the termini of two major thoroughfares: Muhammad Ali Jinnah Road and I. I. Chundrigar Road, and is a major bus-stop.[10]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Database Error". 5 January 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e J.W. Smyth (1919). Gazetteer of the Province of Sind. Vol. B Vol 1 Karachi District. Bombay: Government Central Press. Reprinted by Pakistan Herald Publications Ltd, Karachi Pg 62
  3. ^ Nadir Siddiqui, Shameen Khan (2 March 2014). "Karachi Time Machine". DAWN. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  4. ^ a b Siddiqui, Ahmed Husain (1996). Karachi: The Pearl of Arabian Sea. Mohammad Husain Academy.
  5. ^ a b Khuhro, Hamida; Mooraj, Anwer (1997). Karachi, Megacity of Our Times. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-577806-9.
  6. ^ "SERAI QUARTER FEBURARY [sic] 2008". antiquities.sindhculture.gov.pk. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  7. ^ Behram Sohrab H.J. Rustomji, Karachi 1839-1947 A Short History of the Foundation and Growth of Karachi, in Karachi During the British Era Two Histories of a Modern City, Oxford University Press, Karachi, 2007. Pg 104
  8. ^ a b Adil, Mamun M. (April 10, 2015). "Revisiting Kurachee..." DAWN. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  9. ^ Smyth, J. W. (2003). Gazetteer of the Province of Sindh, Karachi District. Indus Publications. ISBN 9789695290057.
  10. ^ a b c Rehman, Q.-U.-A. and Soomro, R.-U.-H., 2019. Revitalizing cultural heritage: conservation of Merewether tower and its impact on urban morphology. Built-Environment Sri Lanka, 13(1), pp.38–50. doi:10.4038/besl.v13i1.7667
  11. ^ Lari, Yasmeen; Lari, Mihail S. (1996). The Dual City: Karachi During the Raj. Heritage Foundation. ISBN 978-0-19-577735-2.
  12. ^ "Built to last — Karachi's stonemasons leave their mark". Arab News PK. 2018-09-06. Retrieved 2020-04-12.

24°50.936′N 66°59.845′E / 24.848933°N 66.997417°E / 24.848933; 66.997417

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Merewether Clock Tower, Karachi.
  • "Architecture: Merewether Tower, Karachi"

February 15, 2024
merewether, clock, tower, merewether, tower, urdu, میری, ویدر, ٹاور, gothic, clocktower, built, during, victorian, karachi, pakistan, tower, landmark, central, karachi, termini, most, important, roads, central, karachi, muhammad, jinnah, road, chundrigar, road. Merewether Clock Tower or Merewether Tower Urdu میری ویدر ٹاور 2 is a neo Gothic clocktower built during the Victorian era in Karachi Pakistan 3 The tower is a landmark in central Karachi and is at the termini of two of the most important roads in central Karachi Muhammad Ali Jinnah Road and I I Chundrigar Road The tower used to mark the boundary of the city when arriving from the port at Kiamari 4 and marked the dividing line between Karachi s Old Town and its newer European quarters to the east 5 It currently is the westernmost point of the Serai Quarter 6 Merewether Clock Towerمیری ویدر ٹاورGeneral informationTypeMemorial and clocktowerArchitectural styleGothic RevivalLocationSerai QuarterTown or cityKarachiCountryPakistanNamed forSir William Lockyer MerewetherConstruction started1884Opened1892Height102 ft 31 m 1 Technical detailsFloor area44 m 144 ft Design and constructionStructural engineerJames Strachan Contents 1 History 2 Architecture 3 Significance 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editMerewether Tower was raised by public subscription as a memorial for Sir William L Merewether 2 who served as Commissioner of Sindh from 1867 to 1877 7 Designed by James Strachan the Municipal Engineer of Karachi the foundation stone was laid by the Governor of Bombay Sir James Fergusson in 1884 2 It was formally opened to the public in 1892 by the Commissioner in Sind Sir Evan James 2 at a total cost of 37 178 rupees 8 9 Architecture editStrachan designed the tower in the Gothic Revival style popular in Victorian England to evoke the architecture of Medieval England 11th to 15th century CE The architecture takes the form of an Eleanor cross The clocktower stands on a base of 44 feet square and rises to a height of 102 feet 2 4 clocks are situated at a height of 70 feet on each facade with a bell that weighs 300 pounds that strikes on the hour 10 Smaller bells weighing 100 pounds strike on the quarter hour 10 It is made of local Gizri sandstone and Star of David is also visible on its exterior 8 The tower is decorated with delicate stonework 11 which was carved by stonemasons of the Silawat community 12 who are also known as Gazdars Significance editThe tower used to mark the southern extent of the city when arriving from the port in Kiamari along Napier Mole Road 4 It also serves as a marker of the dividing line between the Old Town from the new European Serai Quarters 5 It is also located at the termini of two major thoroughfares Muhammad Ali Jinnah Road and I I Chundrigar Road and is a major bus stop 10 See also editList of clock towers in PakistanReferences edit Database Error 5 January 2009 a b c d e J W Smyth 1919 Gazetteer of the Province of Sind Vol B Vol 1 Karachi District Bombay Government Central Press Reprinted by Pakistan Herald Publications Ltd Karachi Pg 62 Nadir Siddiqui Shameen Khan 2 March 2014 Karachi Time Machine DAWN Retrieved 20 February 2018 a b Siddiqui Ahmed Husain 1996 Karachi The Pearl of Arabian Sea Mohammad Husain Academy a b Khuhro Hamida Mooraj Anwer 1997 Karachi Megacity of Our Times Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 577806 9 SERAI QUARTER FEBURARY sic 2008 antiquities sindhculture gov pk Retrieved 2020 04 13 Behram Sohrab H J Rustomji Karachi 1839 1947 A Short History of the Foundation and Growth of Karachi in Karachi During the British Era Two Histories of a Modern City Oxford University Press Karachi 2007 Pg 104 a b Adil Mamun M April 10 2015 Revisiting Kurachee DAWN Retrieved 20 February 2018 Smyth J W 2003 Gazetteer of the Province of Sindh Karachi District Indus Publications ISBN 9789695290057 a b c Rehman Q U A and Soomro R U H 2019 Revitalizing cultural heritage conservation of Merewether tower and its impact on urban morphology Built Environment Sri Lanka 13 1 pp 38 50 doi 10 4038 besl v13i1 7667 Lari Yasmeen Lari Mihail S 1996 The Dual City Karachi During the Raj Heritage Foundation ISBN 978 0 19 577735 2 Built to last Karachi s stonemasons leave their mark Arab News PK 2018 09 06 Retrieved 2020 04 12 24 50 936 N 66 59 845 E 24 848933 N 66 997417 E 24 848933 66 997417External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Merewether Clock Tower Karachi Architecture Merewether Tower Karachi Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Merewether Clock Tower amp oldid 1196708787, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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