The Cambria Daily Leader

OLD SWANSEA'S FIRST PUBLIC CLOCK. Its Doncr and Why He Gave !t. Bv Mr. W. H. Jones. I THE CASTLE CLOCK FROM THE INSIDE. ¡ Our eketeh Labow-s the mechanism of the ancient clock in the tower of the Swansea Castle. The bl".oa.der black rod which protrudes from each side communicates with the hands on either dtal outside the tower. The great 11n- dulum is shown as it swings beneath the clock. The smaU dial serves the purposf o iregulatmg the clock. The circular apartment is only about six {eet in diameter, so that our artist had a dinicu!t. task in workmg at very close quarters. Ilie cl&ck, which has served the toT!-D for nearly a century and a half. is in-<>xœil('nt condition, and may, with a. little repair, which is now to be introduced, record the time for several generations to come.

I The clock in the Castle tower was the nrst public clock which old Swansea. pos- I sessed; not the first time-piece, however. Before it was installed there was a sun- I dial on the tower j and there was another oh the old mount, or look-out, at I the bottom of Wind-street, and yet another in that pretty, old-world suburb of Swan-) I I. spa, the Green-hill, all maintained by the ConMration. These SUN.DtALS. I were doubtless as necessary to the public of those days as our clocks are to those who throng our streets to-d&y, but you can imagine that for days, and sometimes 'weeks at a stretch, they were as useless as this old Castle clock of ours ha? been tor so long a time. becaut-e our Swansea weather would often conduce to the ob- scuring 01 the sun, wirhout whose kindly. rays the dial would he deprived of the } shadow which indicated the hour. But I want to tell you what has never before been disclosed to you, the manner in which Swansea became possessed of a clock of which our -forbears were jolly proud in their days of some hundred and thirty years ago. I don't know how long ago it must be, but I remember that thire was an inscription, either painted around the clock face, or ac-ross it, recording the fact that the clock was The gift of Edmund Estcourt. Esq. and I am not sure if the date of the gift was added. I must say that I think these ancient in- scriptions on old public memorials give them n additional interest, and I daresay you wiU agree with ma that it is a pity it has been removed or painted out. Per- haps you wi!t come a step further with me and express the hope that, if and when the clock fa-ce isfbgain approachable a search should be made ft)r traces of this inscription, and an effort ba made to re- write it in its ancient charactera. I MR. EDMUND ESTCOURT. I I ihis gentleman came into prominence at a time when much worry and anxiety, was being experienced by the Corpora- tion of Swansea, about the yaar 1789. One of the most famous of our fellow citizens. a man who had occupied nearly erery public position of responsibility in the town, its admirable' Recorder (or Town Clerk), and trusted and honoured by all the burgesses of his day-Mr. Gabriel Powell—had ] nst died. You will find a monument to him with a lengthy inscrip- tion thereon, upon tho wall within our Parish Church, on the left hand as you enter by tho porch at the south-west. It records his death on the Sth December, 17S8. When he jdied. the Corporation I discovered that all tllo important books and papers of the town were, or had been, in his possession. V&ry naturally, the Corporaton camp immediately to a resolution that "it I would be .highly proper /that ye papers and records. and othfr things vhatsocTpr belonging to the Corporation 's'ho'aM he re-nlacer) in ye c1]pst, and deposited in ye I hall/' But. to claim these things t'rom the j executors and to rf"éain possession of ntpm I ware -ntirf-Ir diff(>rnt matttprs. Gabriei PoTTelI. g'od and loyal friend as he, was to lia(i I ACCOMMODATED THE CORPORA- TION I Wlth the smew's ot war N-,fien the ex-1 chequer had occasionally run o-ut, aud when he died there was over b ltim, a big sunY in tbo&p d<iys when híO or three hundred pounds was a handsome I balar,ce at file t'ml of the year's account of the Corporation's transactions. And the executors would not part with the rf- cords 'unti! that sum ha'! hepn paid oS. The dilemma conHrmod to \'ex the Cor" ? l' tMration tor Many v.-c?-ks. during 'n'hi<-h time frpquent ui?ptmg-. had hppn hehi ? and deputations iormed to deal witjb ?ej I

"Bit late apen'c you, Aonny? ItTs gone thrM o'clock, yon knúw!" U Beg pardon, sir, but it's only quarter to three now!" The old Castle clock, fStanding at a quarter to three. has become c(uite Pn institution, ami Lie!A. Jc'hn Hodg'ens has many humourous stories to ten of some nf the more dilatory cf n')R lads of the Naval Brigade, who manfully 3B- deaTour to make themselves too early! ?

Photo.) Sergt. pomll, B.G.A.. of the Mumhiea I'ort, with a eomp&nMn, had a nast. experience on Monday iligbt, hcing washed OTit to eea in a small bo&t.

COWS' SUFFER!NGS. Case Against UaneHy Fore- manDtsm!ssed. j A G.W.R. yard fore-maa named\Dadd DaviM..38. Bigyii-road, Llanelly, w86 pro- ceeded against at the local Police Court ( on Wednesday for cruelty to animus. Mr. Leslie Williams appeared on behalf of the N.S.P.C.A.. and Mr. T. R. Ludford defended. Mr. Williams said that two cowe wera .sent .from St. Clears to Llanelly. On tha evMimg fhar, t!iey were expected, the con-. 1__ignee failed to get Dews of theoi. 11\ the aft-ernoo!i f)d' the following day a. eearch ,m,as made. and thf cows were found in the wagon on !t sniiDg, in which th"y were sent. They had received so atten- tion from the previous day until then. and had suffered pain, being in a bad eoBditioTi. Defendant admitted when. Rpoken to by Mr. John Erans, veterinary inspector, that he had not imspactod the trufit, and -was 't'esp-oF.J:ible for all live iJIóck enterin,; the yajd when he W.i co. duty. Defendant eaid it was not hn duty to attend t'') the cattle- 3fr. I,udfcrd said it was an unfortunate accident vbich migh't ha.ve happened in. the best organised 'vorks, and it happened:. because it vvas u-siiaj to send. bTitte oJ truck.; with cattle by goods train. It was not part of the duty to March the wagonp, and it wmJld be an 1n" possible thing, as it would bring trade ti, a &tandstiH. ;a The Pre?idi? Magistrate (Mr. Da rid Williams): Wo are &tis'fied that thera was grOGS negleo: and that the cows Rd- i'ered in consequence, but the fvar," haa not bwn brought home to tj, d4Ç.J" ao the oho. ig c-USMAM-S%], i

I NOT UNDER CONTROL. MtMfy of Nerves cut of Tune. ) i Some people can think or work w&n ia noisy eurroundmea 00- in a room wowde4* wi'h hlke,Z+;. J''ew people, however, b-ave their n.rves eo wen l1;n'¿r<ntrol; Tnoat grow irr!ta -¡1, and cannot fix their Attention on urjrpnt: matters except in perfect qunet, not eatS1];;} obtained. Ii- rcquirfa a great eCort bo work under ff'Ish diScuIties, a'nd aiiv trifle ja.ngles the nervM. Pe'r'ha.ps yom. arn up'et during the morning. with result that things go wrong all day Tri.t-h.' a. headache or neuralgia. T.h tl"Oubles that loom so Mg with. out real reason are all effects of evpr- straillà.1 nerves. ahUd the taisfo'-t'me ia tIrM they rob OM of proper eteei) and' ca.Tiee ona to be geTMTaHy out of sorts. So-m people then foolishly resort ta dnjga, a danrolls 'policy. It ig far batt&r to give Four tired a-true tonic. They are probably .stal'1:d for tha -<F8jit of gopd red blo<:d io fped them, and the cry off starved DfJrvS ta&M the form or nour,-tW- and nerve The fa.'llOusne'rW-tünic effect of Dr. Wil1iÐJ)l' 1"* their wonderful hlood-making Pl"()}W! tjps. They build n.p the, Mood a.nd so foee.d the nert'ous system, and in w'here; :i nervous breakdowTL ia threatened, ing loss <yf work and suft'ríng. thcy aro e a -afntly sui-table. Miss M. Dawson. of 7. Prc')5pl'.ci Tep. ra.oe. So'lgh L-tme, Jyl-and, Preston. Tf- oently gava particubt.r<, of her cure by Dr. pink piMx. It was &b.jut Christmas, 1916. that e,bo began to -F-cl her h<;a.lth giving way, and for four m<mth6 ?he suffered in a. most diatrMs- in.g manner. Lang-cmr and fatigTia v.'a <'Tcr preoent. Exha.ustin.n a,cd the darly conditicn, and shattered nerves with the resultant apprenenaion. fear ab-;ence of cour g'< and loss of sleep. -Ilim Da-wscn's letter regw.dijig hér -iH- ness and recovery* is a co.nyine.í J,)c¡¡- ment. rlhiø is whati: ahe wrote:- Towards thp- end of last year I got thoroTighly yun douro and vea.k. I was nervooa and irritable, And everything eeemed to much trouble. I w&s dÐprd. and miserable, and could Not sl&ep aC' nis'ht. My aunt adviacd me to try Dr. Williams' pink pills, aa she bad benefited by them. I aa-id I would try theni. Socm after commencing the pUIp I noticed a diSerenee, for my appetite rc- tum'ed, and I felt brighter and more elergeti(,: I persttreredwith the pins, and continued to impro" until now I am: quite well again. I am very Rrateful to !?-. Wilhams' p<nk pLIls for Tvbat thev have done for me. a.nd have recomniended them to all tne girlr. I work 'with. MMS Dawson wrnte the aoov in Angtil4t 1919, and when -Doited a month later z ha was a picture of robust health and in every eenoo a. bright and happy wonmn. If you a.re not nt Dr. Williama' pink pills will help yon to health. CK-t :t supply now from any dealer, and to avoni Bubstdttutes ask for Dr. WHIitatms' FREE. U Nervee acd Thetr -Nee&- a little book that will help you to avoid nerve troubles. Send a postcard for it t.<j' Dept., 36, ritzroy Square, London, W. 1.

serious position, until at last Mr. Est' court appeared on the scene in t'be capadty of mediator between the town nud the Duke of Beaufort and fventuaHy, !.) the joy of tLo Corporation, 'his Oraoo, hT A[r. Estcourt. Las been pleased in t.]]e lyosf generous way "—so the Corporation minute-book, dated 27th January, 1789, records tb? fact—" to send down one thou- sand pounds to offer the use of the 6!'me in order to.. ena bIt?> t'he Corporation to pay off the Bond deb<; to the executors of Gabriel Pow?L' '?'bo detain tae recortis and papers." etc. and pal)ers." et(-. Esicourt to t? i !ord of the town is not disclosed, but I! imagine he mu'-t. har-a beeo his solicitor. All.vmay, this was thf first of many inti- ma.te lassociations whicTi h.o JlW with t,be tov.-n. At thi. tims the inhabitants were aT'-akin:' to the realit-ation that THFZ GUNDITlUtY Ul- lMt; SfWt.t.'& was a, SMinda' and <iisg!aco to tt town !v.'htchdcsir<?dtoho!dup]tshfa<iasa f wateT'mg p!af'c. to he frequeDted by the quiity' and the choicest fawlies oif the, i I West Off England. And so, since fhe Cor- poration was about to seek Parliamenta-ry powers to improve the harbour, it was re- solved that the Bill should also provide for putting the streets in order; and it was Mr. Estcourt who fashioned this part of the Bill for the burgesses, acting ap- parently as solicitor and adviser to fhe Corporation in the matter. And in May, 1789, we find it rMOTtM fhat the Bill of Edmund Estconrt. Etq., on the paving business, amounting to S178 113. 2d., was to be paid by the Common Attorneys (town treasurers) who wero authorised to borrow the sam& if there were not shoicient moneT in their Tiands for the purpose. This was only. one of, apparently, many ?ervicea which Mr. Est- court performed for the town; and it was anticipated that he should be paid for his advice and assistance. But ne showed I TRUEPUBUCSPtRtT I ..JI. & I I in the matter, and in April, ivsu, we tuM it stated in the Corporation minutes that Mr. Estcourt, wishing to decline any re- compense for business done by him as solicitor and attorney on behalf of this Corporation; and money having been paid him on that account, but which he, by Mr. Morgan (who was the Duke of Bea,&- fort's steward in Swansea) hath declared that he thought too presuming and im- proper in him to propose the rctnrn of, and having expressed his wishes that ho miglit therefore be permitted to pre,nt the Corporation and i,ftie town of Swansea I with some public testimony of his respect and esteem for them, I MR. ESTCOURT'S POLITE COM. MUNtCAHON I of his acntunenLs beiug taken into con- i sideration by the burgesses this day in Coimuon iLall assembled, it is resolved I that some niarl- of. Mr. Estoourt's regajd for them be received, and as n clock to be put up on such a situation as might { hereafter be determined upon wouid be ot most general utility we request it may be returned to Mt. Estoourt as our opinion that jiis present of a clock would be the most eligible testimony of his attention to this town and Corporation. Resolved I also that Mr. Portreeve be desired to transmit our thanks to Mr. Estcourt on the occasion, under' the common seal of I this borough." Just a twelve month parsed, ere we hear again of the proposed gift, a.nd then, in May. 1791. we read of Mr. Morgan being requested to cause an additional deal plate and index to be made to the clock I intended to b<! presented to this Corpora- tion by Mr. Estcourt. and that the Com- mon Attorneys pay the expense." I SETDNG UP THE CLOCK. It was in January, 1792, that the clo<'k was ordered to be put into position. Thomas Morgan, the Dukc?B steward, was now Portreeve. and the minutes of the 3nd January record again the thanks of the (Jorporation to the donor of a clock to put up on the Castle." which was so vaiuable and useful a present," and it wa? turiher revived tbat Mr. Estoourt );houM/recc'ive the freedom ot tite Coj'- poraticfR m testimony of their sense of his polit.e instance of hit! friendship to* wards them. as well as oi the attention which ha hath ever paid to their affairs and interests as their solicitor in Lon- don." And nnaMy, th?ro is a resolution, on the Ranie day, that the Common Ait&rueys do cause, tile clock to he put up on the Castle as soon as they think proper." The Duke gave is permission for the clock to bo put in its position; Mr. Hotmes, of the Strand. London, who made the clock, was desired to send down a proper person to put it up, and that is the last wo hea.r of the acquirement of the useful gift. which has remained in psi. tion with more or less public utility ever since, f The clock occupies & MaHy prominent position in one of the portions of the to? a: where men m"st do congregate, and I am %!ad to be able to tell you that it is to be IN COMM<SS)ON ONCE MORE so that its uspruiness may be <*gam ap-* predated by the townsfoUt. We must not be allowed to believe that the days of this ancient servant of the town h&ve ei- pired—far from it; it is game yet for' another hundred and thirty years at ajiy r&tf. I have it on the authority of one¡ of the principal horologists of the to-w-al that it can, with a little attention and1 proper oversight, be made to keep -exeel.1 lent time, ao that its erroT need nevef' ] exceed ten seconds per 'we<'k. We ha.Ut aU he looking' 'forward to the reinstate* i ment of Swansea first pnbiM clooll, weh, Hie. interest it mu?t possess for all of ullr in the knowledge that amjay n&rations: of barrages hare tatcsn their time froUIJ; it.