In the nearby town of Stroud was a primary school called "The Black Boy School" which was built in 1844. The school itself closed in 1964 and became a teacher's centre, and today has become flats.
On the outside roof is this clock, which includes a black boy in a leaf skirt that turns its head and hits the bell with a club on the hour. After all the problems in Bristol and the statue of Edward Colston being ripped down and thrown in the docks, some are now calling for this to be removed.
The clock itself is much older that the school and dates from 1774, being made by a clock maker called John Miles, and it originally stood above a shop in the town centre. It was donated to the school when it was built.
It has today become very controversial and is being called racist by a few who walk by. It has hit all the headlines lately with protests etc. Look up Black Boy Clock on the internet. Personally, I've never thought of this in a racist way, to me the important thing is the history of the clock and the mechanics. Hopefully a decision will be made to keep the history going, so it can tick away for a few hundred more years.
Ooh dear it is part of our history whether good or bad - we can not sweep it under the carpet to blot out our forefathers deeds ! Let the little boy carry on ringing the bell -- I am sure he will enjoy ringing that bell for eternity ! Lovely shot and presentation Heather ! fav
All these decisions to remove or rename anything thought one tiny bit racist has gone over the top I feel. It’s history & is it to be wiped out? Completely different with stuff going on now & I’m all for that….racism is a abhorrent in all forms but history is history & can’t be erased I feel. It’s a dodgy subject.
Well, it is a fact that stupid people act in unpredictable ways.