A monument built to mark Queen Victoria's golden jubilee was officially unveiled today after 18 months under wraps for repairs.
Restoration of the Clock Tower in Brighton included reactivating the golden ball which rises and falls every hour and has been completed just before the end of the present Queen's 50th year on the throne.
The £100,000 restoration was paid for by the city council, Boots the Chemist and the Regency Society of Brighton and Hove.
Environment councillor Chris Morley said: "It is wonderful to see this piece of Brighton and Hove history back in working order.
"It is the hub of the city and has been restored to its former glory."
The tower has been fitted with a new bronze mast and the gilded copper ball weighs 100kg.
Children from nearby Middle Street school sang carols before the official ceremony.
One guest was Joy Crawshaw from Chichester whose great-grandfather, Henry Howell Hewlings, was largely responsible for the Clock Tower.
She said he was disgusted when the council sent him a rate demand for it. He refused to pay and, in revenge, the council built public toilets below the tower.
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