Jun 10, 2020
The Black Clock
When St George the Martyr church was refurbished in the 1730s, the residents of the surrounding area were asked to make financial contributions for the works. The story goes that the residents of Bermondsey refused to contribute – the exact reasons are unclear, though it may be that at the time the area was home to many Dissenters who would not have been happy to give money to an Anglican church.
As part of the restorations, clock faces were added to each side of the tower. Three are white and are illuminated at night, but the one facing Bermondsey is black and unlit – apparently the church’s response to Bermondsey’s lack of generosity.
