Merewether Clock Tower

Merewether Clock Tower or Merewether Tower is a neo-Gothic clocktower built during the Victorian era in Karachi, Pakistan. 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, and marked the dividing line between Karachi's Old Town and its newer European quarters to the east. It currently is the westernmost point of the Serai Quarter.

History

Merewether Tower was raised by public subscription as a memorial for Sir William L. Merewether, Designed by James Strachan, the Municipal Engineer of Karachi, the foundation stone was laid by the Governor of Bombay, Sir James Fergusson in 1884. ==Architecture==

Architecture

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. Smaller bells weighing 100 pounds strike on the quarter-hour. which was carved by stonemasons of the Silawat community, who are also known as Gazdars. == Significance ==

Significance

The tower used to mark the southern extent of the city when arriving from the port in Kiamari along Napier Mole Road. It also serves as a marker of the dividing line between the Old Town from the new European Serai Quarters. 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. ==See also==

Source: Wikipedia ↗

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