Tron Kirk Clock, Edinburgh
Posted by on Nov 10, 2013 in Building clocks | 0 comments

The Tron Kirk  church) is a former principal parish church in Edinburgh, Scotland. Situated at the corner of Hunter Square on the famous Royal Mile.

It was ordered to be built by King Charles I when he declared Edinburgh a City.

Tron Kirk, Edinburgh

Tron Kirk, Edinburgh

The church was erected between 1636 and 1641 to a design by John Mylne, Royal master mason “dedicated to Christ” by the citizens of Edinburgh in 1641, and known as “Christ’s Kirk at the Tron”.

The name “Tron” comes from the salt-tron, a public weighing beam which was once located outside the church.

Various restoration and alteration works have taken place extensively over a 200 year period.

There are records of a new spire being contracted in 1828 to replace the original wooden one destroyed in by fire of 1824 and restoration work to the clock tower but nothing about the clock itself.

The clock tower is recorded as being a traditional gathering point for the celebration of Hogmanay in Edinburgh.  This diminished over time but it was announced in November 2012 that this historic venue would re-stake its claim to the city’s hogmanay celebrations.

Tron Kirk Clock, Edinburgh

Tron Kirk Clock, Edinburgh

Tron Clock

Very little is noted about the clock in the Tron Kirk tower but if this is the original, then it was installed in 1678 after being removed from the Butter Tron which was destroyed by Cromwell in 1652.

A description of the 3 stage clock tower and steeple describes it as:

“Lower stage squared with channelled pilasters and traceried window at each face.
Above parapet; scrolled clock faces with octagonal corner piers linked by round-arched flying buttresses to tall octagonal stage; smaller octagon with round openings above rising to stone spire”.

More information

Tron Kirk – Wikipedia

Edinburgh World Heritage – A new Lease of Life for Tron Kirk

Buildings at risk register for Scotland – Tron Kirk

Leave a Reply