We're still collecting donations
On the 31st July 2020 we'd raised £2,707 with 52 supporters in 56 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
Help us restore the clock faces and mechanism, refurbish the woodwork, repair the weather-vane and replace the ornate zinc tiles of the roof
by Tony Wood in Southsea, England, United Kingdom
On the 31st July 2020 we'd raised £2,707 with 52 supporters in 56 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
Summary: To help raise funds towards the restoration of this iconic Southsea building we are offering you the chance to sponsor a zinc tile on the roof, with your name initials engraved by hand. Or you can contribute to the skilled labour costs by sponsoring an hours work. We are also offering a Guided Tour of the building and a limited unique opportunity to wind the clock mechanism.
History of the building: The Clock Tower is an iconic Grade II listed building on the junction of Castle Road and Great Southsea Street. Portsmouth. UK. A quintessentially British road with Sir Peter Sellers born at one end of the street and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle living at the other. The Clock Tower remains the tallest building, and one of the oldest left in this corner of Southsea. It survived the blitz of Portsmouth with bombs landing either side of the street and the mainly wooden structure has withstood the wrath of many gales and coastal storms.
The building was erected in 1903 by Ernest Smith the Cabinet Maker, his name is immortalized in the numerals of the clock face. It has only had a handful of owners, each reflecting the history and culture of the last century: Designed initially as a public house but used as a antiques and furniture store, it became a car show room for Ford Motor Company, then an antiques and artwork store to the Fleming family, Pat Staples Interior Design Shop and now the Tony Wood Hair Salon now owned by Liam Bradley Fry.
"Time to get creative, time to be the crowd."
These names have dominated the main ground floor but many other businesses and 'characters' have worked and lived in the rooms above. In WWII it was an Officer's club and home to The Navy's Three Arts Club, 'Poetry, Music & Singing' and has for the last 75 years been office and workspace for craftsman, artists, architects, designers - a real creative industry hub in the heart of Southsea.
Tony Wood, a local Paulsgrove boy and Castle Road resident bought the building in 2004 from Alf Fleming - Antiques. With that comes the responsibility of looking after such an iconic 'wooden' building. Cosmetic maintenance has been ongoing, but it is 'time' for a major restoration of this historic local landmark.
The building has survived echoing it's own moto, carved in stone above the door:
“NE CEDE MALIS SED CONTRA”
Translating roughly to modern English~
"Do not yield to misfortune but overcome"
Just before the Lock Down of C19 everything was in place. The scaffold was erected and a skilled team of craft and trades began work. To date Tony has personally funded everything to do with the Clock Tower. However, it is a local treasure and historic landmark for the whole city and we hope you feel the same.
Despite it's defining role within the local Conservation Area, it is only 'Grade II Listed' with English Heritage. Therefore it does not attract normal Heritage Grants or other charitable funding to help with this work. The blue plaque on the front of the building was Awarded by 'Portsmouth Society' for restoration work done by Tony to the lower building in 2016.
Already on a tight budget, the significant problems with the roof were unexpected, and are breaking the bank. But they are necessary and urgent. Covid19 has not helped our initial financial plans and schedule. So, in these difficult times, we have turned to you, for crowdfunding and offering some unique Rewards for your help.
There are 1200 zinc tiles and many meters of lead flashing, lots of woodwork, four clock Faces, a clock mechanism and The Castle Road weather-vane to raise essential funds for. Check out the Rewards and ways you can help. Thank you for your interest in our project.
Get your name initials engraved onto a zinc tile for posterity. Two letters per tile. But you can buy a couple for you and a loved one or a family, even a whole row between friends. Perhaps you help by buying 'hours' of craftsman's time or just fancy a nose around this beautiful building with a personal tour inside and out. You might even want to wind the clock tower mechanism.
Initials will now be hand engraved not stamped. But you get the idea ;-)
This project offered rewards