Need to know
The Time Ball was removed in July 2025
The Guildhall Time Ball (Image: Hull City Council)
Key facts about the currently missing piece of Hull’s skyline
- On top of the Guildhall, the headquarters of Hull City Council, usually sits a 50kg golden ball. In addition to giving the building a quirky look, the Time Ball has played a key part in Hull’s rich maritime history. The ball was first installed in 1915 and was placed on top of the Guildhall so it could be seen from the city’s docks.
- By rising between 12:57 and 13:00 each day, the Time Ball would help mariners set their chronometers accurately. The process relied on a precise signal sent from the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, which was then used to trigger the drop at exactly 13:00.
- After being out of action for over a century, in 2023, the Time Ball underwent a £400,000 refurbishment, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hull City Council. On June 29, 2023, crowds gathered to watch the ball rise and fall for the first time in over 100 years.
- Despite the refurbishment, the Time Ball soon stopped rising once again. In April 2025, Hull City Council confirmed it was aware the ball wasn’t working and scheduled for specialist engineers to visit the site. In July, the ball was removed from the Guildhall to be taken away and fixed.
- As of February 2026 there is still no time frame for when the Time Ball will return to the Guildhall. Smith of Derby is working to repair the mechanism and has been working with overseas manufactures in their efforts to restore the ball. The leader of Hull City Council, Cllr Mike Ross has said: “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.”
- Read More: Where is the Guildhall Time Ball?
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