 The city's residents "retain a nostalgic affection" for it, even though opinion is sharply divided as to the tower's architectural merit.English Heritage has listed the clock tower at Grade II for its architectural and historical importance.The small fishing village of Brighthelmston was transformed into a fashionable seaside resort and thriving commercial centre after local doctor Richard Russell's treatise explaining the health-giving effects of drinking and bathing in seawater became a fad in the late 18th century.