Sheffield mourns loss of local "institution" as it's confirmed 1 o'clock time siren gone for good

A siren that has alerted people in Sheffield of the time since 1874 will sound no more, after a business announced that they had permanently removed the iconic landmark.

Visitors to Sheffield city centre would have struggled to miss the ‘1 o’clock Time Signal’, which blared out a high-pitched tone from the H. L. Brown store on Barker’s Pool at 1pm every day.

However, the unforgettable alarm has now been removed, with the new owners of the store ‘Loupe’ confirming that they have donated it to H. L. Brown’s management.

“It’s a Sheffield institution, it’s part of the Sheffield soundscape, like the sound of drop hammers used to be,” Craig Broadwith from the Sheffield Historic Building Trust said.

“I think it’s very sad that it’s gone.”

The siren was introduced in 1874 as an innovative way for Harris Leon Brown to market his jewellers.

At the time, it would have been a cutting-edge piece of technology, helping Victorian shoppers to keep track of time and offering a unified signal for everyone to set their watches to.

Craig said that when running tours in the area, he would try and stop so people could hear the daily signal and used it as an opportunity to “explain the history of the city centre.”

“I think it is important - it’s a small thing but it’s a sad loss to the city,” he added.

Loupe, who took over the shop in August, say that their decision to remove the alarm was “not taken lightly”.

They have given the historic artefact back to H. L. Brown, who still run stores in Doncaster, Lincoln and York.

A spokesperson for Loupe added: “As part of the refurbishment, and after much consideration, the building’s iconic 1 o’clock siren was carefully removed and gifted to H.L. Brown in recognition of the jeweller’s role in establishing Sheffield’s public time signal tradition in the 19th century.

“We know that the siren holds a special place in the city, having become a familiar daily sound for many, and the decision to remove it was not taken lightly.

“By returning the siren to H.L. Brown, Loupe is proud to honour an important part of the city’s heritage while ensuring this unique piece of Sheffield history remains connected to the business that first made it a cherished part of the city’s”

However, the change has not been received positively by people in the city, with readers commenting on The Star’s announcement calling to get it “straight back up” and describing it as a “part of history.”

Craig echoed this, saying he was “very sad to see it gone.”

“I wish there was something that could be done or their minds could be changed,” he went on to say.

“It’s one of the negative aspects of progress I think.”

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Over in Hull, the ‘Time Ball’ - a similar type of alarm which rises and falls at 1pm each day - was restored in 2023 with the help of National Lottery funding.

The unique feature on the city’s guildhall was installed in the beginning of the 20th century, however became damaged by a storm.

Craig hopes a similar restoration project may be possible in Sheffield, and suggested an ideal spot the alarm could be moved to.

“I’m wondering if there is a way with the town hall refurbishment project where the resources could be found to reinstitute the siren on the town hall,” he added.

“But that’s just off the top, you’ll have to talk to the council about that one.”

Take a look back the the history of H. L. Brown with our photo gallery below

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