The person who attempted to climb Machynlleth’s iconic clocktower last year has left “no lasting damage” to the clock, it has been confirmed.

The town clock has now been fully repaired after being silent for three years, a refurbishment costing £55,000, and the added inconvenience of a police search for climber who was seen scaling the clock.

The Machynlleth landmark turns 150 years old this year, and the community has welcomed the news that the clock is fully functioning once again after a lengthy repair process that has cost at approximately £55,000, carried out over several months.

The clocktower, which stands on the intersection of the A487 and the A489, was motionless since September 2020, with repair efforts being hampered by the pandemic and additional cosmetic work on the structure raising the cost and even a resident who attempted to climb the tower and “manhandled” the clock hands.

The incident occurred in October 2023, with Dyfed Powys Police making enquiries to identify the culprit and Machynlleth councillors fearing that permanent damage had been caused to the refurbished mechanism.

However, Machynlleth mayor Cllr Jeremy Paige has confirmed that no lasting damage was caused to the clock.

He said: “As I understand, Dyfed Powys Police have officially signed off on the incident and no lasting damage was caused by whoever attempted to climb the tower.

“We’re pleased to say that it’s now fully functional once again after a lengthy period of silence. I think Machynlleth’s clocktower serves as a thermometer of sorts, a gage for the shared history and community within the town.

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“We’ve had great support from the community in getting the important landmark back in motion, ready to celebrate its 150th anniversary this summer.

“I’m sure councillors and the community will be just as enthusiastic in doing something special to mark the occasion.”

The clock was built in 1874 by the residents of Machynlleth, having been designed by Henry Kennedy of Bangor to celebrate the coming of age of the eldest son of the Fifth Marquess of Londonderry, who lived at Y Plas, Charles Stewart Vane-Tempest.

In January 2023, with the milestone birthday looming, Machynlleth Town Council launched a renewed effort to repair the clock, estimating that approximately £40,000 would be needed to repair the mechanism.

Smith of Derby clockmakers were hired to repair the clock’s inner-workings, with additional cosmetic work on the structure also being needed, bringing the total cost of repairs up to £55,000.