A clock that was made in Drogheda more than 125 years ago has been bought by Louth County Council and will be installed in the Drogheda Borough Council chamber currently under construction in Fair Street.
The mahogany cased longcase clock, which features the name of the makers ‘B. Albert & Co Drogheda’ on the dial is believed to have been made in Drogheda sometime in the late 1800s.
The clock is a weight driven piece, which will run for eight days on a full wind, and strikes each hour with a ‘sonorous gong’.
It was owned by a family from Terenure, County Dublin where it spent several generations before being acquired by an antique clock business in Dublin city.
The clock is believed to have been the work of a company founded by Reinhardt Albert from Bavaria, who came to live in Drogheda in 1863 where he opened a jewellers, clock and watch making business. His premises was located at 116 West Street, Drogheda.
He passed away on September 13th 1893 and is said to be the first person to be buried at St Peter’s cemetery in Drogheda.
The clock has a specific local history as Albert & Co. were also, at one time, the official clock maker for the former Drogheda Corporation.
Having been brought to the attention of Louth County Council in recent weeks, the local authority are delighted to confirm that arrangements are being made to have the clock installed in the council chamber at Drogheda Borough Council.
Louth County Council Chief Executive Joan Martin welcomed the historic acquisition. “This represents an important piece of local history for the town of Drogheda, and we very much look forward to bringing it back to the town to be installed at the council chamber.”
