Çorum Clock Tower

Çorum Clock Tower was constructed in 1894 by Beşiktaş Guard Çorumlu Yedi Sekiz Hasan Paşa during the Ottoman period. The tower is located in the center of Çorum province in Türkiye’s Black Sea Region, at one of the city’s most densely populated areas.

Çorum Clock Tower is architecturally designed in the form of a minaret. Its base is octagonal with a diameter of 5.3 metres and the total height of the tower is 27.5 metres. The main body has 24 sides with a diameter of 3.9 metres. The construction material used throughout the tower is yellow cut sandstone, with each side measuring 2.1 metres in length.

Transition from the octagonal base to the main body is achieved through a Turkish triangle motif cushion. The tower is crowned with a lead-covered dome. Each of the four facades features a clock face. Access to the balcony is via a rounded arched entrance on the southern side, reached by a staircase of 81 steps.

^{Çorum Saat Kulesi} (Çorum Belediyesi)

The marble inscription above the tower’s entrance is dated to 1312 Hijri (1894 CE). This eight-line inscription, separated by ruled lines, states that the structure was commissioned as a charitable endowment by Yedi Sekiz Hasan Paşa under the order of Sultan II. Abdülhamid. The inscription reads:

“By the decree of the sovereign of the age, the benevolent Sultan Abdülhamid Han,

Hasan Paşa, endowed with grace, dedicated all his means to revive good deeds;

May the Lord grant him success in all his endeavors.

This clock tower, from among the noble acts of charity,

Was built to revive this city with abundant blessing.

Written at the most honorable moment on its portal,

Lütfi Hasan Paşa constructed this magnificent timepiece, 1312.”

The final two lines of the inscription record the construction date.

Clock towers first appeared in the Ottoman Empire from the 16th century onward. However, their widespread construction across Anatolia occurred in the 1890s following imperial decrees issued by Sultan II. Abdülhamid to commemorate the 25th anniversary of his accession to the throne. During this period, these towers served not only as time indicators but also as barometers, compasses, wind vanes, fire watchtowers, and gathering points. In the Republican era, plazas were established around clock towers in Anatolian cities.

Of the 144 clock towers built during the Ottoman period, 52 have survived to the present day. Çorum Clock Tower is one of these surviving structures.

The tower’s bell system originally produced a sound powerful enough to be heard even in villages connected to the central town. Over time, however, the constant striking of the bell hammer at the same point caused a deep groove to form in the metal, resulting in a reduction in sound volume. Additionally, urbanization, new construction, and noise pollution have further hindered the bell’s ability to carry over long distances.

^{Çorum Saat Kulesi Restorasyon Çalışması} (Çorum Belediyesi)

Çorum Clock Tower remained standing for many years without any maintenance. In 2019, Çorum Municipality launched a comprehensive restoration and repair project. As part of this work, the clock faces were restored to their original condition, the tower was equipped with night lighting, and its original aesthetic appearance was fully reinstated.

Under permits granted by the Monuments Board, restoration efforts corrected malfunctions in the tower’s timekeeping mechanism and repainted its surfaces. According to Çorum Municipality, the tower is also known locally as the “Bell Tower” and holds a symbolic place in the city’s identity.