Truro’s historic bells have been removed from the clock tower on the Municipal Building, as part of its restoration.

Work started in June on the structure which sits atop City Hall – the clock was removed some time ago and at the moment only the tower remains.

It was covered in scaffolding for two years while work was carried out to the Grade II-listed building, which houses the Hall for Cornwall theatre as well as Truro City Council with the Tourist Information Centre and Mayor’s Parlour.

The building dates back to 1846 but the clock tower was replaced after a fire in 1914 when the clock half-fell into the council chamber.

It left only the side of the tower facing Boscawen Street remaining in its original granite form.

The three lost sides were reconstructed using reinforced concrete and rendered to give the appearance, from street level, of granite.

Now, however, the steelwork used within the tower is corroded and surveyors have found it is structurally compromised.

Mayor of Truro Steven Webb said: “I’m really excited to see the work continue. I never realised we had four bells.

“This gives me great confidence and joy that we will hear these bells ringing out over Truro on time in an orderly fashion next year.”

City councillor Bert Biscoe explained some of the history behind the current clock: “It was donated by Lewis Daubuz and in the council chamber there is a brass plate commemorating this, though it states the donor was anonymous.

“It was later revealed Mr Daubuz was the generous benefactor.

“The clock is a significant part of Truro’s history. When the Magistrate’s Court was situated in City Hall, it was a popular idiom to describe the court, or being due in court, as being ‘under the town clock’.”

The completion of the works to the clock tower is due in the spring of 2023.