Burnham Clock Tower
The Clock Tower is Burnham's best known landmark.
It is a red brick octagonal clock tower with black
brick quoins and diapering which was built in 1877. The tower is in four
stages with a fish scale tiled ogee roof.
The Tower was dedicated to the memory of Laban
Sweeting a well known local oyster merchant who was renowned for his
philanthropy amongst local residents.
On his death the Clock Tower was financed partly
from public subscription in his memory.
Attached to the clock tower is St Mary's House
which is a building now used as flats although its former use was as
Burnham Endowed School.
The school was founded in 1785 and improved again
in 1815 by voluntary subscriptions. A complete refurbishment was carried
out in 1863 followed by the addition of the Clock Tower in 1877 despite
competition from the new state school opened at Devonshire Road in 1898.
By 1973 the conditions were no longer suitable for schooling and the new
St Mary's Church of England Primary school moved to its current site in
Marsh Road.