MERTHYR TYDFIL

OLD TOWN HALL CLOCK

By Carl Llewellyn

During the Coronation year of King Edwards VII (1902) the Merthyr Urban Council were in discussion what would be a worthy tribute to commemorate H.M. Edward VII’s Coronation by the citizens of Merthyr. The proposal suggested for an installation of a clock below the Town Hall’s turret, after some consultation and debate it was approved by the council, this would be Merthyr’s commemoration of the coronation of his Majesty King Edward VII ascension to the British Throne, 9^th August 1902. The architectural alterations would be required to be implemented under the turret of the Town Hall. Tenders were received for lighting the clock as follows: - Merthyr Gas Company, fixtures £5 and lighting "10.10s per annum or by meter; Merthyr Electric traction Co., fittings £26 7s 6d, lighting not exceeding £10 0s per annum. It was stated that the Gas Company were paid on the average £19 13s 7d a year for lighting the Old Parish church clock. After discussion it was agreed seeing the gas would be useful to the clockwork in the winter rime to accept the Gas Company's tender

By February 7^th 1903 it was reported the turret of the Town Hall had been cut away in order to make room for the clock, but there was a danger of damage being done, there was concern the structure might have collapsed if the work had not been stopped. At the time Mr V.A. Wills said that inasmuch as Mr Johnson was the architect of the building and knew every screw and bolt in the turret, he would move that he be engaged to supervise the erection of the clock. MR T.E. MORGAN seconded, MR W. LEWIS moved that the Mr Harvey Surveyor do the work and said that in his opinion all work undertaken by the Council was carried out on the highest scale of expense. Mr F.S. SIMONS said that if Mr Harvey was architect, surveyor and everything else, he would be worth £5,000 a year. The Surveyor had his own work to attend to. On a division voted 8 voted for engaging Mr Johnson and 7 against and the motion was carried.

On the 25^th April 1903 upon the conclusion of the business of the Council, the Chairman Mr Gwilym C. James invited council members to accompany him to the turret of the Town Hall. Where he had arranged that he should set the new town clock, The councillors made their way into the tower accompanied by Mr C.H. Flooks, jeweller, Pontmorlais and High Street who was entrusted with the order and carried it out with every satisfaction in the presence of Mr Johnson, architect of the Town Hall. The next few moments proved a most exciting time, every gentleman from the smallest to the stout and robust member made use of a long ladder going into the heart of the works. On descending the Chairman of the Council Mr Gwilym C. James at the invitation of Mr Flooks took hold of a long silken chord attached to the lever in the clock, pulled it down about six inches and let go suddenly.  This occurred exactly 16 minutes past 4 and Merthyr's miniature "Big Ben" began to work in real earnest. It is an English turrets striking clock, showing the time on four illuminated dials, each dial being 4ft in diameter. The clock is lighted at night by gas, the light being automatically turned on and lowered by mechanism. It is fitted with a double three legged gravity escapement the invention of Lord Grimthorpe and as a compensating pendulum. The escapement it will be interesting to many to know is built on the same lines as that of the great "Big Ben" at Westminster Abbey. The hour struck on a ball which weighs two cwt, and cast in its sides are the words "Made Coronation year of H.M Edward VII 1902". The bell is a sweet tone and can be heard for a considerable distance. The whole clock and fittings weighed more than a ton, the mechanism is beautifully finished in every way, the wheels and pinions being cut out of a solid metal. The driving weights weigh about two cwt., each. Outside, the clock fills a long-felt want and the townspeople are already proud of it. Should it keep good time as the one at the General Hospital, which was presented to the governors by Mr C. H. Flooks in the year 1885, Mr Flooks and the Council are gratified that the work has been so successfully carried out. The cost of the clock itself exclusive of alteration to the turret was £135.       

In 1961 the pendulum mechanism which had driven the old Town Hall clock was replaced by an electric one.

On Saturday 1st March 2014 St. David’s Day the Old Town Hall “Hen Neuadd y Dref” was given a new branding which is now called “THE REDHOUSE” the official opening commenced on the stroke of 12 noon when Richard Harrington, star of S4C and BBC Wales hit drama Hinterland/Y Gwyll, restarted the Old Town Hall’s iconic clock, which has lain dormant for 30 years. Unlike the original, the restored clock will be fitted with a night silencer.

The bell won’t ring between 11pm and 8am

Freemen