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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Claire Galloway

Edinburgh's historic London Road clock to be reinstated as part of trams to Newhaven project

A historic clock is set to return to Leith over ten years after it was first removed to make way for tram works.

It seems like a distant memory but back in 2003 initial plans for a new tram network linking the city centre with both Leith and Edinburgh Airport got underway.

Despite hopes that the trams would be operational by 2009, it would be another five years until the first tram returned to Edinburgh's streets after almost 50 years.

While the new route never actually made it to Leith - and currently only serves Edinburgh Airport to York Place - the planned works prompted the removal of an iconic clock in the north of the city.

London Road clock was removed in 2007 to make way for the tram system but, in an ironic twist of fate, is set to be reinstated as part of the Trams to Newhaven project, which got underway last year. 

While the clock may be known as London Road clock by locals, it started out life on Waverley Bridge in 1857 before being moved to the West End in 1896. It wasn't until 1955 that the clock found a new home at the roundabout on London Road.

In an announcement on Twitter, Trams to Newhaven said: "As part of #TramsToNewhaven the clock from London Road roundabout is being refurbished and will be reinstated along with famous bronze pigeons to an improved public realm at Elm Row when construction is finished."

The project to extend trams will see the line extended 2.9 miles to Newhaven and is expected to be completed in three years, with the trams running on the route in early 2023.

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