The Clock Tower, St Albans

Brings back memories!

Did you ever go inside (up) the tower?

No, I didn't even know one could!

If you get the chance to, do. It's very interesting. Two families once lived in the tower - that of the shopkeeper on the ground floor and that of the Clock-keeper, above. An (unlined) central shaft carried sewage from garderobes off the internal spiral staircase to a cesspit in the basement - the stench must have been overpowering. The clock (the mechanism is still intact) is also interesting. In the 19C the clock face, made of obfuscated glass, was back-lit after dark using gaslight. And the view from the top is quite good.