Built in 1883, Ruthin Town Clock is an important part of the town's history

The Ruthin Town Clock, otherwise known as the Peers Memorial, was built in 1883 to commemorate Joseph Peers - who had been a Justice of the Peace in Denbighshire for 50 years in the mid 19th century.

Now, thanks to a grant from the Clocaenog Windfarm fund and local councils, a group made up of local volunteers has come together to develop a project with the aim of restoring the structure to its past glory.

Clock.

Plant growth visible on Ruthin clock.

The group has identified sections of stonework that need attention including cracked stones, plant and moss growth to name but a few.

"If you take a closer look at the Peers Memorial you will notice that time has taken its toll, and, before things get any worse, now is the time for restorative works," stated Restoration Group Chair, Fiona Gale.

The clock itself has some very interesting features. It has the likeness of Joseph Peers on the clock side facing the roundabout, and he is named on the inscription on the side facing the Ruthin Post Office.

It is a Grade 2 listed structure and has layers of different types of stone which gives the clock its unique appearance, quarried from Llys Cadw Quarry near Llanasa. The clock is owned by Denbighshire County Council.

The restoration project is very much in its infancy at the moment, with the details of a restoration plan to be worked out.

This is why the group has decided to split the project into two phases. Phase one will be an information and permission gathering stage, with detailed plans and drawings made for the restoration, the costs of the restoration works calculated and all the necessary permissions put in place. Once phase one is completed phase two will be the actual work of restoring the clock, subject to getting the necessary funding.

The group is currently at the start of phase one, with funding secured from Denbighshire County Council and Ruthin Town Council, and within the past few days, from the Clocaenog Windfarm Fund, which means work can begin to plan a scheme to restore the clock.

Fiona, an archaeologist who was appointed an MBE for her services to heritage in Wales in 2019, added: "We are extremely grateful to these organisations for their funding support for this project. We want the local community and wider general public to be involved as much as possible, and there will be an opportunity for everyone to be involved in this stage through a series of community consultation events later in 2021."

The community consultation will include full displays about the history of the clock and Joseph Peers, as well as the restoration plans, with an opportunity to provide feedback.

The group is keen to find out as much as possible about the clock and Joseph Peers so anyone with information should contact the group on 1883clock@gmail.com.

Group member and Ruthin Town Councillor Anne Roberts said: "The town clock is an icon of Ruthin and has been treasured by generations of residents and we want to give it a new lease of life into the future.

"Its early days but we are hopeful of being able to preserve this structure for the town for future generations. The restoration project is not about changing the clock in any way – only restoring it to as close as possible to its original condition."