A sundial which was a well-known landmark in Chatham town centre for 23 years has been taken down.

Removing the huge, blue timepiece from its position in Railway Street is part of Medway Council’s plans to de-clutter Chatham as regeneration work goes on in the town.

The sundial was installed to commemorate the death of Admiral Lord Nelson in 1805 on the Chatham-built HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.

It was unveiled by the then Mayor of Rochester upon Medway, Cllr Ann Marsh, on October 21, 1994.

It stood near the former Post Office, which is now the Wetherspoon’s Thomas Waghorn pub, supported by two massive steel supports and with a gold rope effect around the circumference.

On the wall under the sundial was a brass plaque explaining when it was erected and why.

Medway Council says the sundial is intact and in storage while its new location is decided.

The authority was awarded £4 million government funding to help regenerate Chatham and make it a better place to work and visit and consultation events were held in the Towns last year.

The de-cluttering project is aimed at creating an easier journey for pedestrians and cyclists from Chatham Railway Station to the waterfront bus station and town centre.

Improvements will also be made at the New Cut junction, St John’s Square, Military Square and Military Road and work is expected to be completed in 2018.

The large gates near the Pentagon Shopping Centre bus station entrance are staying where they are but the pillars in Military Square will be removed.

Some information signs will also be removed and replaced with fresh signs to suit the new look of the area, with work due to start later this month.

Next month, the council will be holding an exhibition at the Pentagon Shopping Centre revealing plans for the work and artists’ impressions of the area.

A council spokesman said: “The sundial has been removed as part of our Chatham Place-Making works which involves de-cluttering the area and creating open spaces for pedestrians.”