The Time Ball was removed in July 2025
Guildhall with and without the Time Ball(Image: Hull Live)
Hull City Council has provided an update on the Guildhall Time Ball. The city centre building has been without its crowning timepiece for six months.
If you have walked past Hull’s Guildhall in recent months you may have noticed a piece of the city’s skyline is missing. The 50kg golden ball which usually sits on top of Hull City Council‘s headquarters has been nowhere to be seen since July last year.
The Time Ball is seen as a treasured piece of the Hull’s rich maritime history having been used to help sailors in the city’s waters. The ball would rise, allowing sailors to set their chronometers accurately. The ball is now meant to rise between 12:57 and 13:00 each day to pay homage to the city’s maritime heritage.
After being broken for over a century, in 2023 the Time Ball underwent a full £400,000 refurbishment, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the council. Despite the pricey work, the ball soon stopped functioning once again.
After the Time Ball had stopped working, inspections were carried out on the time piece in the Spring last year with Gillian Osgerby, interim assistant director for major projects and infrastructure at Hull City Council, at the time saying: “We will provide another update when the Time Ball is expected to be working again.”
In July, it was then revealed that the Time Ball would have to be removed for repair works. After being removed on July 13, it has not been seen since.
Six months on, Hull Live asked Hull City Council to provide an update on the repair works and to give an estimate for when the Time Ball will be back in place, and working. With 2026 set to be the year when Hull’s maritime past is celebrated, perhaps like never before, will the return of the Time Ball be added to the reopening of Queen’s Gardens and the Maritime Museum?
Cllr Mike Ross, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “Smith of Derby, the specialist contractor appointed to reinstate the Guildhall Time Ball has now carefully dissembled the damaged components following mechanical issues, and is collaborating with overseas manufacturers to design, build, and rigorously test an upgraded operating system for the historic timepiece.
“Due to the unique internal design of the mechanism, this work requires intricate planning and the creation of bespoke, precision‑engineered parts. These elements must undergo comprehensive testing to ensure the long‑term reliability and performance of the Time Ball once it is restored to operation.
“We fully appreciate the importance of this iconic feature to Hull’s heritage and skyline. This is why every effort is being made to fix it, and we are committed to completing the repairs as swiftly as is practically possible without compromising quality or durability.”
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