British bell tower and clock of Old Fortress

The clock tower of the Old Fortress is placed in a prominent position on a fortification constructed to halt ascent to Kabana fortress where there is the western gate of the fortress citadel. It was built under British rule between 1848 and 1850, probably to replace the bell that already existed in the Venetian fortress and also the clock tower that was demolished in the same period for the large barracks to be constructed there. The 12 m tall building is a tower featuring elements of neoclassical architecture, such as Tuscan columns and cornices. The lower part of the building is made of coated bricks and is structured into four pillars. Atop the three of the four sides of the clock tower there are the clock plates, and a bit lower there are six small arched windows, two on each side. There is also a rectangular window on the entrance façade. Inside the clock tower, there is a wooden staircase leading to the clock mechanism and from there through an opening with a hatch to the bells. The upper part of the tower is made of hand carved Maltese limestone. It is roofed over with a semi-circular dome supported by four pillars featuring arched openings among them. In this area, surrounded by a parapet, there are three of the bells contained in the bell tower. The largest one is a Venetian construction, bearing a winged lion relief and the date 1732. There is an inscription which mentions its manufacturer’s name, i.e. GIOVANNI Bonardi BRESANN. The other two bells had been manufactured in 1827 by a British foundry named T. MEARS of LONDON. In 1950, a new clock mechanism was installed which was manufactured by the Greek Karamanos company. This mechanism had been functioning for about 15 years. References / Reference list - Αγοροπούλου – Μπιρμπίλη Α., Η αρχιτεκτονική της πόλεως της Κέρκυρας κατά την περίοδο της Ενετοκρατίας, 1976. - Καμονάχου Μ., Πανταζή Ν., Ντίνου Α., Το Παλαιό Φρούριο της Κέρκυρας, Δήμος Κερκυραίων (ΑΝΕΔΚ), Ιονική Τράπεζα, Κέρκυρα, 1994. - Πόλη της Κέρκυρας, Περιηγητικός Οδηγός, Ιστορία – Πολιτισμός – Αρχιτεκτονική – Χρήσιμες πληροφορίες, Πρόγραμμα «Πολυπολιτιστικού Τουρισμού, Αναπτυξιακή Επιχείρηση Δήμου Κερκυραίων (ΑΝΕΔΚ), Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή, Γενική Διεύθυνση XVI, «Πολιτισμός» ΕΤΠΑ, Άρθρο 10.