Mercer Memorial Clock Tower gets Lottery funding

Hyndburn Borough Council has received £27,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an exciting project to rejuvenate the Mercer Memorial Clock Tower; a key grade II listed building at the historic heart of Great Harwood.

Led by Hyndburn Borough Council, the Great Harwood Civic Society and the Great Harwood Community Action Group, the project not only focuses on the renovation of the clock tower itself, but also aims to promote awareness of John Mercer, the inventor of cotton Mercerisation, through a series of promotional events.

The project will work with local schools and local artists to develop a series of educational resource materials, which will continue to be used long after the project has finished.  The scheme aims to promote an understanding of the historic environment of Great Harwood and create pride amongst young people about the place where they live.

Work to the clock tower will be completed during the summer of 2013, culminating in an unveiling event aimed at capturing some of the emotion around the original opening of the memorial, which was attended by some 4,000 people in 1903.  A week long exhibition will be held later in 2013 showcasing the project and the work created by the children.

Great Harwood Councillor Ciaran Wells said; “The building is associated with a strong sense of civic pride for Harroders and has in recent years deteriorated, so the award of the funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund is a massive boost for the town and we are thrilled to have received their support.

Cllr Wells added; “This is fantastic news for Great Harwood and I’m delighted that not only will improvements be made to the clock tower, but also that the local community and schools will be involved”.

Sara Hilton, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund North West, said: “Mercer Memorial Clock Tower is an important local landmark in the heart of Great Harwood and represents a key part of the town’s rich industrial history. Through HLF’s grant, this impressive structure will undergo much-needed restoration work and local people will be able to learn about and enjoy the story of the tower, and John Mercer, for many years to come.”

The clock tower, which is at the heart of the much loved historic town square, was unveiled in 1903 with much local pride, and dedicated to John Mercer, the inventor of a cotton treatment process known as Mercerisation.  Mercerisation was a milestone for the cotton industry making the material softer, stronger and easier to dye.  In recent years the façade of the clock tower has deteriorated and now the building will be cleaned, re-pointed and some of the worn stone replaced.  The building will be stabilised, although not every piece of worn material will be replaced as the everyday wear and tear forms part of the buildings history.