Famous landmark of North Wales' industrial history secures restoration boost from Welsh Government

Enbarr Foundation is resurrecting the John Summers Building in Sealand (Old Steelworks) for the community

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Owen HughesDaily Post chief reporter

17:18, 27 OCT 2021
Updated18:09, 27 OCT 2021

The former John Summers building on the banks of the River Dee. (Image: North Wales Daily Post)

A well known landmark of North Wales' industrial history has secured a funding boost to support its restoration.

The Grade II-listed John Summers Clock Tower site in Deeside opened in 1907 and was home to the general office of Shotton Steelworks – now Tata Steel.

It closed in 2009 and has fallen into serious disrepair after being sold by the company.

National architecture charity the Victorian Society included the former office building on its Top 10 Endangered Buildings List in 2018.

The Enbarr Foundation not for profit organisation, received the keys to the Steelworks John Summers clock tower building, last year to turn into a community hub.

The main entrance stairwell (Image: Ian Cooper)

Now the group has secured £237,000 from Welsh Government towards resurrecting the building.

Director Vicki Roskams said: “Despite the extraordinary challenges Enbarr and the community have faced during the past 18 months, community spirit and the resilience of Welsh people has shone through.

“With this critical funding we are hoping to renovate and refurbish the basement of the iconic Grade II John Summers Clock Tower to create a community space and heritage skills centre to support local growth, skills and entrepreneurship, as well as developing a health and well-being centre.

“Without this much needed grant from the Welsh Government, our years of planning would have been put on hold for even longer.”

It was one of seven North Wales community projects that have been awarded a share of over £568,000 in funding by the Welsh Government.

The other projects are:

Canolfan Glanhwfa Cyf, Angelsey - £250,000 towards completely refurbishing the Chapel and creating a community hub.

Prestatyn Men’s Shed, Denbighshire - £10,000 towards the purchase of The John Moore Centre which they are currently leasing.
Canolfan Felin Fach Centre, Gwynedd - £12,000 to refurbish and replace their kitchen.
Maes y Pant / Hollowfield Action Group, Wrexham - £10,000 towards creating a new children's play area in the community woodland.
Gresford Community Library, Wrexham - £24,740 towards installing new heating equipment and insulation to make the premises more energy efficient.
Wrexham Community Broadcasting, Wrexham - £25,000 to create two studio spaces for live broadcasting and pre-recording radio shows.

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The Minister for Social Justice, Jane Hutt, said: “As always it is fantastic to see such a range of projects and organisations from across Wales benefitting their local communities thanks to this funding.

“After the last 20 months and now more so then ever, our communities and the wonderful facilities within them are centres for bringing people together and building back a stronger, fairer Wales for all.”