The floral clock saved from diggers...but will it return?
IT was one of Swansea’s most eye-catching and unique horticultural features that sat in one of the city’s beauty spots for nearly 100 years.
Located within the beautiful urban Victoria Park, situated between Swansea city centre and Mumbles sat a working floral clock, an extremely popular feature with locals and visitors.
It was installed in 1911 by Swansea Corporation at the cost of £50.
The working timepiece was one of the only ones in the country which had flowers growing in the actual hands, and it is believed the timepiece ticked for about a century.
For many, it is a firm reminder of their childhood, and it was recognised as one of the city’s most iconic sights and features of its time, along with the Swansea Slip Bridge and Mumbles Train.
But by the early noughties, floral clocks began disappearing at an alarming rate, so much so that a warning went out they should be saved.
Back in 2003, JCBS moved onto the site where the clock was for redevelopment work around the old St Helen’s swimming baths site.
The 80-year-old building made way for a new flats development.
With the opening of the new £10.7 million Wales National Pool, Swansea, the historic baths, which had been home to local swimming groups for so many years, were no longer required.
David Mitchell was the horologist for Swansea, and cared for Swansea’s many clocks, including the floral clock, for around 50 years.
One day, he was passing by the redevelopment works at the site, when he was alarmed to notice the workers were, he claims, about to dig up the mechanism of the old feature.
He says he stepped in and rescued it, and it has been stored by him in his garage ever since.
Mr Mitchell, of Sketty, said: “It was iconic. I used to look after it and all the tower clocks in Swansea - I would wind them up and maintain them. I did the job until I retired and I had taken over from my father in law Charles Dilley.
“Every time I went by the clock I used to look, and one day I could see JCBS and a big pile of earth. I had been told they were not taking the clock.
“I went in and said ‘Hang on a minute, you’re digging the clock up. See those rods, you’ve ripped them up.’
“I made an arrangement to take it out and I put it in my workshop, and it’s been here ever since.
“If I had not gone in and stopped them it would have been chopped up.
“I’m 75 now and I’m looking for someone to take it off me.
“I’ve looked after it and the workings have been painted. It was going to be brought back a couple of years ago, and councillor Peter May was involved, but it never got off the ground.
“I would like to see it reinstated.”
Uplands councillor Peter May had called for the old clock to be brought back in 2016, and said he would still back a motion for its return.
He recalled: “David Mitchell rescued the mechanism as a JCB was about to destroy it all. He stored it in his garage.
“We were looking at a way to restore it but there was a cost involved to construct a tower to put the mechanism inside, with the clock working remotely, which proved prohibitive.
“I would fully support any return and we could look at some alternative funding to do so.
“It was a shame it was taken away. It used to be quite a draw for people and many old postcards depict it in its design. It’s something I would be prepared to have a look at.”
The people behind the project to bring back another iconic Swansea feature, the Swansea Slip
Horologist David Mitchell with the old working mechanism of the Swansea floral clock which he managed to salvage.
Bridge, have suggested there may be hope of a return for the iconic old clock.
Chairman of The Return of Swansea Slip Bridge, John Ashley, said: “It is not directly part of our project, but as part of our plans we are leaving the area where the clock was free for someone to come in and reinstate it.
“We would absolutely love to see it come back, but rather than spread ourselves too thin we’ve concentrated on the bridge.
“I was quite little when it was there but I have fond memories of walking down towards the bridge and always seeing the clock.”
Mr Ashley added that discussions are continuing with Swansea Council concerning the return of the slip bridge, but that things had been paused temporarily due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Swansea Council’s cabinet member for environment enhancement and infrastructure management, Cllr Mark Thomas, said: “The floral clock was removed as part of the redevelopment of the former St Helens Baths.
“We understand the mechanism for the clock has been kept in storage by our former horologist who was responsible for maintaining all clocks in the city.
“We recognise that the floral clock is a feature which was much loved by many and would like to see it restored. It is something we have looked at in recent years. It would likely be very costly and include ongoing future maintenance at a time when we as a council are having to prioritise reduced budgets.”