Wander through Gravesend’s main shopping district and its remarkable history is not immediately apparent.

Behind the facades of Costa Coffee, McDonald’s and Santander are buildings worthy of a place on the backdrop of a Charles Dickens’ novel.

Standing head and shoulders above them all, both literally and historically, is the clock tower in Berkley Crescent.

Now undergoing an extensive £215,000 makeover, the iconic tribute to Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee was last week the main subject of a tour and talk from historian Christoph Bull.

The Messenger tagged along with interested members of the public for an education on what Mr Bull describes as “one of the most significant Victorian buildings in the town”.

“I believe we all take the clock tower for granted because whenever you go past you are probably driving or shopping and don’t look up to take notice,” he said.

“The clock tower is a significant symbol of the town because it was built on the idea that Gravesend deserved something special.

“In 1887, Queen Victoria celebrated her Golden Jubilee and there was a huge deliberation in town as to how this should be commemorated.

“One suggestion was to build a public library, but that took them until 1905. In the end, two things were done — one was an extension to Gravesend hospital, the other was the clock tower.”

The sum of £679 and 14 shillings was raised and architects began submitting designs, with William Henry Archer the man chosen to build the monument. Mr Archer was also responsible for the King’s Head pub in nearby King Street.

Construction was fairly swift, with the foundation stone being laid on September 6, 1887. Mr Bull said it was the high point of the jubilee celebrations, with more than 6,000 people attending the ceremony.

Hidden underneath the 51ft structure was a time capsule, which contains copies of local papers from the time and coins minted for the jubilee.

Work was completed in 1889 and the clock was started for the first time on June 5 that year. For decades after it was used as Gravesend’s main hub of celebration.

Mr Bull explained: “Every time there was a new Queen or King, or the end of a war, great big celebrations would be round this area.

“Now they are held at the civic centre, which just shows how the geography of the town has gradually moved westward.”

Until now, besides some minor refurbishment in the 1960s, the clock tower has seen little in the way of tender loving care.

In fact it came close to being demolished in the 1970s as part of one councillor’s bid to improve traffic flow in the town centre. “Fortunately that didn’t happen,” said a relieved Mr Bull.

The scaffolding surrounding the tower at the moment may be something of an eyesore, but it’s all part of what Mr Bull says is “one of the greatest projects the council has done in many years”.

“I believe we all take the clock tower for granted because whenever you go past you are probably driving or shopping and don’t look up to take notice” Christoph Bull

Gravesham council agreed to go ahead with the restoration last month after a successful bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund back in March.

The bid secured £172,300 on top of a £5,000 grant from the late Cllr Jane Cribbon’s Kent County Council member’s community fund and £38,100 from Gravesham Council’s property maintenance budget.

Maintenance is expected to take 26 weeks, which means it could be looking good as new by the end of the year. The plan is for it to offer exhibitions, tours and educational visits.

Mr Bull continued: “There are still huge numbers of people who come to visit. Gravesend has the potential to be a major tourism attraction.”

No doubt Mr Bull should be one of the first people visitors to the town seek out if they want to learn more of its heritage.