Mercer Memorial Tower, Town Hall Square, Great Harwood

Completed in 1903 a clock tower, 52 feet high, was erected on land given for the purpose by the Urban District Council, to the memory of John Mercer, F.R.S., F,C.S., {1791-1866) inventor of Mercerisation, as applied to cotton and other fabrics and possibly Great Harwood’s most famous son. The site chosen was in the centre of the Town Hall Square on land belonging to the local authority. The design of the clock tower was prepared by Alfred Henry Dunkin, Surveyor to the Urban District Council. The cost was estimated at £1,000 raised by public subscription. The contract was let to Edward Lewis and Sons of Shorrock Delph Blackburn using stone from Howley Park Quarries, Morley, Leeds.

The structure was built in the Renaissance style on a foundation of concrete with steps on four sides forming the approach. Visually of three stages, the tower was supported on four large piers forming the base, these being connected with semi-circular arches. Over the four arches are four inscribed tablets giving details of construction, etc. The base, 12 feet square, and 14 feet 4 inches high was surmounted with balustrading and moulded finials at each corner. The shaft of the Tower, 13 feet 8 inches high, was square in form with large wide buttresses projecting at an equal angle from each corner giving a somewhat octagonal appearance. In each face of the shaft a window was inserted. At the top of the shaft was the Clock Chamber and belfry, commencing with a carved string course on which stands moulded bases supporting red Scotch Granite columns surmounted with carved capitals supporting the moulded frieze, cornice and pediment, these columns forming a continuation of the angle buttresses of the shaft. The stone surrounds of the clock faces were moulded and carved. The whole was originally covered with a burnished copper dome within which four bell openings covered with louvres were provided to allow the sound of the bell to escape. The copper now appears to have been replaced with lead. Crowning the dome was a weathervane featuring a mortar and pestle, symbolic of John Mercer's work. To protect the Tower from the surrounding market stalls a balustrade boundary wall was erected around the base of the tower.

Constructed from the designs of Lord Grimthorpe, the clock was manufactured by the renowned firm of William Potts and Sons of Leeds, makers of some of the most important public clocks in the country, including those at the town halls of Preston, Bolton Wakefield Burnley and Manchester. The hours are struck upon a bell which weighs 2 cwt. It has four external dials each 3 feet 6 inches in diameter, lighted automatically.

The opening ceremony took place on 20th June 1903 when the memorial was unveiled by His Worship the Mayor of Accrington (Alderman Thomas Broughton) and handed over to Councillor James Cran, M.D., J.P., Chairman of the Urban District Council.

Reference          Souvenir of the Mercer Memorial including description of clock tower 20 June 1903