... at 4.55 p.m.

Not satisfied with making sure the city's inhabitants could work out their own weather forecast using the equipment I showed yesterday, the Victorian architects made sure the locals also knew the time of day.

Even now this is one of the tallest buildings in the city, except for the Cathedral, so the clock can still be seen from some distance. It chimes too, which is handy if you're out of sight.

If you look very carefully you should be able to see another pointed spire in the lower right third of this picture, this is a spire/clock tower on the new Hampshire County Council offices.

In the foreground is a Zebra Crossing, with its position marked by Belisha Beacons. These are 'unregulated' crossings, if a pedestrian is on the crossing traffic is supposed to stop.

The orange beacons on striped poles were introduced by transport minister Leslie Hore-Belisha in 1934. The striped road markings came later, following complaints from motorists that the crossings weren't always easy to see. The flashing lights came along in 1953, amid fears that they would distract motorists.

Loads more to read on this site  - Histories - Pedestrian Crossings -

.....

This picture is level, although there is some distortion from the lens. The road in the foreground has quite a crown/camber, to make sure rainwater drains into the gutters and away into the drains. The pavement also slopes slightly towards the edge of the road for the same reason. Also, as you can see - here - on this aerial view, the building is in two parts, with the further section at an angle to the section at this end (front of picture).
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