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School's Heritage Saved

Clock tower from top of old Horwich primary school is preserved

Originally written by Rosalyn Roden, c/o Bolton News.

DURING the demolition of an old school, a piece of Horwich's heritage has been preserved for future generations to come, in what has been described as 'a remarkable feat'.

The clock tower which sat atop the former Chorley New Road Primary School has been crane-lifted off the old building as part of a meticulous six-hour process which cost contractors more than £15,000.

Willmott Dixon, with the help of Horwich Heritage, has saved the structure and intend to relocate it in the playground area of the new school.

Roy Davies, a member and volunteer of Horwich Heritage Centre, said: "The finial is an historic part of Horwich. You do not see many finials these days - architecturally, they are few and far between. So to have one in such good condition, with the lead preserved, it is quite a remarkable feat to have it saved."

He added: "Saving the finial was a planning requirement after the original application went in for the new school.

"Horwich Heritage have been involved from the start and with excellent cooperation from the builders, managed to remove it successfully with two huge cranes over a six-hour period on September 11.

"In most cases, these important piece of our history are not saved. I doubt there are many builders who would have gone to these lengths. The contractors footed the entire bill."

Willmott Dixon brought Ainscough Crane Hire on board to manoeuvre the historic piece down from atop the roof of the old school building.

The clock tower is currently being stored at the back of the old school and is due to be incorporated into the new site before construction is completed in March 2019.

It is understood the tower will become a feature in the new playground, placed on a new timber base with the clock face reinstated, and a new fence around it.

Mr Davies said: "The finial's original purpose was that of a bell tower. It is made out of timber and lead coating. There are perforations around it for letting sound out. It was converted in about 1989 when the clock was put in it."

A planning document of an heritage assessment reads: "The school is a Renaissance-style building, locally distinctive because of its triple-gabled facade and clock tower.

"The clock tower is attractive and its appearance is curiously reminiscent in miniature of that at Bolton Town Hall of 1866-1873."

Josh Heavens, Willmott Dixon's senior building manager on the project, said: "We are delighted to have been able to help preserve the clock tower for the local community to enjoy and would like to thank Horwich Heritage and our supply chain partners for all their help with the project.

"Leaving a positive legacy in the communities we work in is very important to Willmott Dixon; we believe strongly we have a purpose beyond profit and we will always endeavour to help where we can."

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WATCH: Bolton's 'Munitionettes'

As the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War approaches, we're looking back at the role of those back home.

The conflict wasn't just fought in the trenches on the Western Front, but on the home front too.

Almost a million women worked in munitions factories all over the country, including Horwich near Bolton.

The local heritage centre is paying tribute to the so-called Munitionettes.

Paul Crone reports.

Watch The Video >

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Horwich Heritage Summer Walk: 4th July 2018

Our group of 20 spent an excellent 2 hours climbing steadily from the Jolly Crofters up to Wilderswood and as far as Ormston's Farm (shown on the 1620 map of Horwich) before descending down through Wallsuches and back for a welcome pint!

The old farmers and miners would hardly recognise the area now and there are some very historic and desirable properties with splendid views out across the Lancashire Plain as far as North Wales.

We were blessed with a lovely temperature after the heat of the day and there were no signs or smells of the fire that had been raging over the other side of the hill - an altogether memorable event enjoyed by all who came along.

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Horwich: Past, Present & Future

Photo of our latest Open Day/Exhibition on 21st July entitled 'Horwich: Past, Present & Future' which not only showcased Horwich's fascinating past but gave our visitors the chance to comment on its future by talking to the Horwich Neighbourhood Plan representatives.

The exhibition runs until November during which time comments will still be welcome.