Cheshire East Council has said it is 'open to exploring potential opportunities' for the former Crewe town centre clock - taken down for a new development.

'Big Bill' was dismantled in 2020 as part of Crewe's Royal Arcade demolition to make way for a new development currently in the works.

The clock faces were originally completed in 1957, with the tower, clock and bells costing a total of £11,950.

Big Bill in December 2017. The clock was dismantled in 2020 as part of Crewe's Royal Arcade demolition to make way for a new development currently in the works (Ryan Parker).

Big Bill had three different clock faces over its lifetime spanning over 60 years.

The faces of the clock tower were originally a deep blue colour, going through two renditions before being changed to white glass in the late 1970s.

In 2020, Crewe Heritage Centre agreed a deal with Cheshire East Council and Cawarden Co. Ltd to take in and preserve parts of Big Bill.

The heritage centre took in the four Crewe clock faces, the five Bells including 1.1 tonne 'Big Bill', the clock mechanism, and surviving glass from two former blue faces.

This February, Cheshire East shared the final design for a new Crewe heritage wall scheme - as part of the Royal Arcade development.

In 2020, Crewe Heritage Centre agreed a deal with Cheshire East Council and Cawarden Co. Ltd to take in and preserve parts of Big Bill (Crewe Heritage Centre).

Following this update, a number of local residents contacted Nub News - asking what the council is going to do with the former Crewe town centre clock.

On Monday (February 13), Chair of Cheshire East's economy and growth committee, Cllr Nick Mannion, said the council were 'open to exploring potential opportunities' with Big Bill.

He told Nub News: "As part of the redevelopment of the Royal Arcade site, the former clock tower was demolished and the clock itself dismantled by a specialist team. 

"The faces, bells, and mechanism of the clock were transferred to the Crewe Heritage Trust, where they remain stored. 

"There are no current plans for how the clock could be reused, but the council is open to exploring potential opportunities. 

The rubble where Big Bill Clock once stood in Crewe town centre (Jonathan White).

"Any decision about its potential reuse would need to consider the costs to get it back fully working, as well as the costs of ongoing maintenance."

The new Crewe bus interchange, heritage wall and multi-storey car park are targeted to be completed by the end of 2023.

READ MORE: Popular Crewe shop set to close for major refurbishment and change of name.

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