Machynlleth town clock appeal ends after nine years

Machynlleth town clock was built in 1874

There's no doubt that people in Machynlleth love their old town clock, but perhaps one person has learned to love it more than most.

When Glenda Jenkins became mayor of the Powys town in 2002, the imposing Victorian timepiece was in need of repair.

Part of its stone work was crumbling, saplings were growing near the clock face and its mechanism was faulty.

Mrs Jenkins had only been a councillor for two years when she was put in charge of restoring the 78ft (23.7m) clock and spear heading the campaign to save it.

But she didn't quite realise what she was taking on.

Nine years and £200,000 later the clock is back in pristine condition and a credit to Machynlleth once more.

"I took on the role of leading the clock appeal because there were problems with it when I became mayor," she said.

"We set up an appeal and as all the fundraising started I wondered what I had taken on.

"It turned into a big job and at times I felt disheartened, but local people were very supportive and helped me through, along with Philip, my husband."

The clock dominates the town and stands at the junction of the A487 and A489.

The foundation stone was laid in 1874 and was built to celebrate the coming of age of Charles Stewart Vane-Tempest, Viscount Castlereagh.

He was the first son of the fifth Marquess and Marchioness of Londonderry, who owned a house in the town.

Money to pay for it was raised through local subscription, and when more than a century later the clock was in need of repair the good folk of Machynlleth were called on again to help.

Machynlleth town clock under repair

Although £74,000 has come from the Heritage Lottery Fund and more than £90,000 from Powys council, some money had to be raised locally.

This inspired Mrs Jenkins to embark on a major fundraising campaign.

One of the first events was a promise auction and she received a signed book and photo from Welsh movie star Ioan Gruffudd, as well as a signed pennant from Everton Football Club and a signed ball from the Scarlets rugby club.

She later received a £1,000 donation from a couple from Hong Kong who had visited Machynlleth on holiday.

As the pressure increased to raise yet more money she, and the town council, took the campaign to ex-pats and people of Welsh origin living in Australia and the United States.

Letters were written to Welsh newspapers in those countries in an appeal for money.

Mrs Jenkins said: "It seemed to snowball and I'd be out shopping and pensioners would thrust £5 into my hand for the clock appeal.

"The market traders (a market is held every Wednesday in Machynlleth) raised £4,000 for the appeal, we had a trolley dash, school children raised money and the local darts teams. In the end we raised £30,000 locally.

"There were times when I thought I can't do this anymore. There was a lot of form filling, I wrote hundreds of letters, attended many meetings and made dozens of phone calls.

"But as time went on the local fundraising showed me how much people in Machynlleth treasured their clock, and I knew then I had to see this thing through."

Work started to repair the clock in 2009, and when the renovation was finally finished last month a small ceremony was held outside the clock.

"It was a bit of an anti-climax really. The appeal had been going on for such a long time that I couldn't believe we had completed our task," added Mrs Jenkins.

But there's no doubt she's proud of what's been achieved.

"When I'm out in the town I sometimes find myself staring at the clock and I think to myself: 'That's brilliant,'" she said.