A HISTORIC clock has undergone a £16,000 restoration and has taken pride of place once more in Southend High Street.

Southend mayor Fay Evans unveiled the renovated R A Jones clock above the Yours clothes store in Southend High Street.

The clock, which was installed by benefactor R A Jones above his jewellery shop in 1890, became damaged last year and had to be removed after posing a danger to pedestrians walking beneath it.

The Ros Southend Past in Photos heritage group kick-started a fundraiser to have the clock restored, raising £8,000 by crowdfunding in just 64 days thanks to public generosity. The clock was restored by the Essex Mobile Welding Company.

Friday saw the culmination of that effort, which was assisted by Southend Council, Essex Heritage, which donated £5,000, and Southend Museums which contributed the remainder of the cost. Yours met the cost of taking down the clock and storing it safely.

Rosalind Harman from the Ros Southend Past in Photos group said: “We are absolutely thrilled. We all wanted it back up there to say thank you to R A Jones because he gave so much to Southend.”

Fay Evans overcame the blustery weather to unveil the clock.

She said: “I am very proud to be able to unveil the restored Jones Clock in this special year.

“It has been wonderful to see such a groundswell of support from the local community to return this historic landmark to its rightful place in Southend High Street.

Ms Evans added: “R A Jones was arguably our town’s greatest-ever benefactor and it seems fitting that his generosity should be repaid all these years later as we celebrate 125 years since Southend was given its charter and 100 years since R A Jones gifted the magnificent Priory Park to the people of Southend.

“I would like to thank everyone who donated to the crowd fund, to Yours Clothing, Southend Libraries and Museum Service and Essex Heritage Fund, all of whom made this possible.”

James Duddridge MP for Rochford and Southend East, also attended the unveiling.

He said: “I was delighted to attend the unveiling of the R A Jones clock and witness a piece of the town’s history being restored to its former glory and re-taking its rightful place in the high street.

“I would like to commend all those who contributed financially and also those who volunteered their time to raise funds.

“I would also like to thank all those who have worked hard to ensure the clock takes back its rightful place in our high street.

“It is a great way to pay tribute to one of the town’s most generous benefactors.”

R A Jones presented the Jones Memorial Ground to Southend in 1919.

He gave Prittlewell Priory and Priory Park to the town in 1917 and the Victory Sports Ground in 1921.