User:Robevans123/sandbox/Tredegar Town Clock

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
In 1857, Mary Elizabeth Davis conceived the idea of a clock for the expanding town of Tredegar. The clock was to be visible to the iron workers and other residents night and day. Mary Davis, and her husband, Richard Powell Davis (manager of Tredegar Ironworks, took a keen interest in the affairs of the town. Richard Davis supported the idea, promising a substantial contribution (£400) if Mary could raise the remainder of the cost.

Fund-raising and cost
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

Pevsner GwentMonmouthshire

GGAT Tredegar Town Clock

Coflein Tredegar Town Clock

Cadw Open Doors

BG CBC Town Clock

WMHS Tredegar Town Clock

Aneurin Leisure Tredegar Town Clock

TTC TTC

Waymark Sculpture

GG William Thompson

Powells History

Design
James Watson, an engineer at the ironworks, designed the clock tower which includes a tuscan column with a tall square base. On each side of the base moulded ribs define geometric shapes with an inscription in the central panel. Above the base three tapering cylindrical tubes form the main part of the column which support a cylindrical base for the square clock chamber. The clock chamber is topped by an ogee roof, which contains a 3 hundredweight (150 kg) bell, and weathervane.

The clock chamber is about 6 ft square and has a clock dial on each of the four cardinal sides. 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.

The clock tower was originally surrounded by four flights of steps, also in cast-iron, in line with the four adjoining streets.