鐘樓(lou)(lou)后的(de)譙(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)樓(lou)(lou)始(shi)建(jian)于(yu)元代(dai)至正九(jiu)年(nian)(1349年(nian)),它(ta)的(de)前身是宋淳熙年(nian)間建(jian)造的(de)用以(yi)了望(wang)的(de)戍(shu)樓(lou)(lou)。由于(yu)它(ta)建(jian)在(zai)州(zhou)署(shu)前的(de)所(suo)謂“子城”的(de)城門之(zhi)上,在(zai)當時(shi)通(tong)州(zhou)城內屬高(gao)建(jian)筑,因此(ci)在(zai)明(ming)代(dai)還有人(ren)把“譙(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)樓(lou)(lou)月曉”列為(wei)“通(tong)州(zhou)八(ba)景”之(zhi)一。譙(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)樓(lou)(lou)內設有計時(shi)的(de)刻漏,并(bing)采用更鼓(gu)來報時(shi)。清道光(guang)八(ba)年(nian),通(tong)州(zhou)知州(zhou)周燾將譙(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)樓(lou)(lou)維(wei)修一新(xin),撤去原來懸掛的(de)“海山(shan)要郡(jun)”匾額,換(huan)上新(xin)命(ming)名的(de)“星(xing)樞(shu)樓(lou)(lou)”樓(lou)(lou)匾。樓(lou)(lou)名星(xing)樞(shu),是依星(xing)相學說,希望(wang)因此(ci)使(shi)通(tong)州(zhou)文化發達、人(ren)才興盛。
民(min)國三年(nian)(nian)(1914年(nian)(nian)),張謇(jian)與其兄用(yong)南通(tong)(tong)潘氏捐給通(tong)(tong)崇海總商會(hui)的(de)(de)(de)(de)五千元(yuan)錢在上(shang)(shang)海買來巨鐘(zhong)(zhong),并在譙(qiao)樓(lou)(lou)前建(jian)造了(le)(le)鐘(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou)(lou)。鐘(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou)(lou)為(wei)(wei)(wei)南通(tong)(tong)建(jian)筑(zhu)師孫支廈設(she)計,在風格上(shang)(shang)明顯受著西方(fang)藝術的(de)(de)(de)(de)影(ying)響。張謇(jian)撰書的(de)(de)(de)(de)“疇昔是(shi)(shi)州今是(shi)(shi)縣,江淮之(zhi)委海之(zhi)端(duan)”對聯,也(ye)被刻(ke)上(shang)(shang)木版懸(xuan)于樓(lou)(lou)前,成為(wei)(wei)(wei)傳(chuan)頌多時(shi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)名作(zuo)。 鐘(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou)(lou)的(de)(de)(de)(de)建(jian)成,為(wei)(wei)(wei)南通(tong)(tong)民(min)眾掌握時(shi)間提供了(le)(le)方(fang)便。兩(liang)年(nian)(nian)后,樓(lou)(lou)上(shang)(shang)又增舔(tian)了(le)(le)消防警鐘(zhong)(zhong),通(tong)(tong)過警鐘(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)敲(qiao)擊聲數來指示火災方(fang)位。另外還配備了(le)(le)代(dai)表方(fang)向的(de)(de)(de)(de)色(se)旗、色(se)燈,遇有火情(qing),同時(shi)張掛。 隨著歷(li)史(shi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)演進,報時(shi)更鼓、消防警鐘(zhong)(zhong)久已消失,而(er)鐘(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou)(lou)上(shang)(shang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)時(shi)鐘(zhong)(zhong)卻依然運行。令人欣喜(xi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)是(shi)(shi),鐘(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou)(lou)的(de)(de)(de)(de)形象被設(she)計上(shang)(shang)市(shi)(shi)徽,成為(wei)(wei)(wei)南通(tong)(tong)市(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)標志(zhi)。市(shi)(shi)政府公布(bu)譙(qiao)樓(lou)(lou)、鐘(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou)(lou)為(wei)(wei)(wei)文物保護(hu)單位,這對保存和利用(yong)這一“中西合璧”的(de)(de)(de)(de)特殊建(jian)筑(zhu),了(le)(le)解南通(tong)(tong)歷(li)史(shi)沿革,無(wu)疑提供了(le)(le)保障。