User:Robevans123/sandbox/Tredegar Town Clock
| Tredegar Town Clock | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Location within Blaenau Gwent | |
| General information | |
| Type | Clock tower |
| Location | Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent |
| Coordinates | 51°46′17″N 3°14′43″W / 51.7715°N 3.2454°W |
| Construction started | 1858 |
| Owner | Tredegar Town Council |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | James Watson |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
| Official name | The Town Clock |
| Designated | 25 May 1962 |
| Reference no. | 1861 |
| Community | Tredegar |
| Principal area | Blaenau Gwent |
Tredegar Town Clock is a cast iron tower and four faced illuminated clock in a prominent position in the town of Tredegar in south east Wales. The clock tower was the idea of Mary Elizabeth Davis. The clock tower serves as a monument to the town's coal and iron industries and is a focal point for celebrations in the town. The clock tower is a Grade II* listed building.
Conception
[edit]In 1857, Mary Elizabeth Davis[a] conceived the idea of a clock for the expanding town of Tredegar.[3] The clock was to be visible to the iron workers and other residents night and day.[4] Mary Davis, and her husband, Richard Powell Davis (manager of Tredegar Ironworks[b], took a keen interest in the affairs of the town.[3] Richard Davis supported the idea, promising a substantial contribution (£400) if Mary could raise the remainder of the cost.[3]
Fund-raising and cost
[edit]Mary Davis set up a committee which organised a charity bazaar, but died before the bazaar was held. With the money raised, and a further contribution from Richard Davis, the target of £1,000 was reached.
Cadw Tredegar Town Clock[4]
Pevsner GwentMonmouthshire[6]
GGAT Tredegar Town Clock[7]
Coflein Tredegar Town Clock[8]
Cadw Open Doors[9]
BG CBC Town Clock[10]
WMHS Tredegar Town Clock[11]
Aneurin Leisure Tredegar Town Clock[12]
TTC TTC[3]
Waymark Sculpture[1]
GG William Thompson[2]
Powells History[5]: 65
Design
[edit]James Watson, an engineer at the ironworks, designed the clock tower which includes a tuscan column with a tall square base.[4][10] On each side of the base moulded ribs define geometric shapes with an inscription in the central panel.[4] Above the base three tapering cylindrical tubes form the main part of the column which support a cylindrical base for the square clock chamber.[11] The clock chamber is topped by an ogee roof, which contains a 3 hundredweight (150 kg) bell, and weathervane.[4][11]
The clock chamber is about 6 feet 6 inches (2.0 m) square and has a clock dial on each of the four cardinal sides.[11] Each dial has hour and minutes hands and roman numerals in black on a white background, and spandrels at the four corners, all above a row of three vents with a clover-leaf pattern.[11]
The clock tower was originally surrounded by four flights of steps, also in cast-iron, in line with the four adjoining streets.[4]
Construction
[edit]History
[edit]Access
[edit]See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ Mary Elizabeth Davis (née Bramwell) was the niece William Thompson (MP), who had substantial interests in the Tredegar Ironworks and Penydarren Ironworks.[1][2]
- ^ Richard Davis succeeded Samuel Homfray, Junior (son of Samuel Homfray) as manager of the ironworks in 1853.[5]: 64 During his time as manager, the truck system was abolished.[5]: 65 He died in 1860.[5]: 70
References
[edit]- ^ a b
"Mary Elizabeth Davis - Tredegar, Sirhowy Valley, Wales". waymarking.com. Groundspeak. 18 June 2015. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "William Thompson (1793-1854)". Grace's Guide. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
- ^ a b c d
"Tredegar Town Clock 150th Birthday and NHS 60th Anniversary" (PDF). Tredegar Town Council. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d e f "The Town Clock". Statutory List of Buildings. Cadw. 14 October 1999 [Listed 25 May 1962]. Cadw Building ID 1861. Retrieved 29 July 2017 – via Historic Wales.
- ^ a b c d Powell, Evan (2008) [March 1902]. History of Tredegar. Blaenau Gwent Heritage Forum. OCLC 317747051.
- ^ Newman, John; Lynch, Frances; Manning, William; Hughes, Stephen (2000). "Tredegar". Gwent/Monmouthshire. Pevsner Architectural Guides (The Buildings of Wales). London: Penguin Books. p. 560. ISBN 0 14 071053 1. OCLC 45327986.
- ^
"Tredegar Town Clock". Historic Environment Record (HER). Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust (GGAT). 17 January 1988. GGAT PRN 02336g. Retrieved 29 July 2017 – via archwilio (online database of the four Welsh Archaeological Trusts).
{{cite web}}: External link in|via= - ^
"Town Clock, The Circle, Tredegar". National Monuments Record of Wales (NMRW). Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW). 2009. NPRN 32888. Retrieved 29 July 2017 – via coflein (online database of the NMRW).
{{cite web}}: External link in|via= - ^
"Open Doors - Tredegar Town Clock". Cadw. 2017. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b
"Tredegar Town Clock". Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d e
Dutfield, Stephen. "Tredegar Town Clock". Wales and Marches Horological Society. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=requires|archive-url=(help); Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^
"Tredegar Town Clock". Aneurin Leisure. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)
External links
[edit]
- Town Clock, The Circle, Tredegar - black and white photo of clock tower with original cast iron steps, 1900
Category:Grade II* listed buildings in Blaenau Gwent Category:Towers completed in 1859 Category:Tredegar Category:Clock towers in the United Kingdom Category:Towers in Wales Category:1858 establishments in England