Terry’s Original Clock Man Returns

by | Mar 24, 2023 | Blog, News & Events, P J Livesey News, Past Developments, Updates

24

March, 2023

TERRY’S ORIGINAL CLOCK MAN RETURNS

Back inside the tower itself and up behind the clock faces

When the hands of the magnificent Terry’s Clock Tower in York started turning again there was one very special person in the watching crowd.

Peter Mortimer, now almost 90 years old, was responsible for maintaining the original Terry’s Clock Tower mechanism during his time working for the famous company.

He was heartbroken when the clock stopped working when the factory closed in 2005.

But 18 years on he was there to see a new mechanism installed and given a VIP trip back up inside the tower to see it working once again.

He said: “It was very special to go back inside the tower itself and up behind the clock faces. The mechanism is a wonderful feat of engineering and it was lovely to see it. It is a tribute to the teams that they managed to source identical parts to make it work again. It brought back happy memories.

“The mechanism takes care of itself and only really needs checking twice a year when the clocks changed. Hopefully this one will tick away for another 100 years.”

We were proud to learn that Peter maintained his connection with the Terry’s site even when the site closed, buying an apartment in The Residence, the main factory building which, like the Clock Tower itself, has been converted into apartments.

He said: “I enjoy living here and I have been looking forward to this day for a long time and I am so pleased that I got to witness it.”

Also on site to see the clock switched back on were Robert and Marion Archibald who will soon be moving into an apartment in the Clock Tower.

They travelled from Chester for the day to witness the historic moment and Marion said: “It was a great occasion. Terry’s Clock Tower is a heritage landmark for York and we are so pleased the clock is working again.

“We feel very proud that, through the management committee, we will be the new custodians of such an important building.”

The £60,000 restoration project was funded jointly by the PJ Livesey Group and Henry Boot Developments.

The clock tower will be opened as a small museum on a limited number of days each year to allow members of the public to see the clock mechanism and read information boards telling the story of Terry’s of York, which have been compiled by local resident Stan Young.

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Terry’s Clock Tower Keeping Time Once More

by | Mar 16, 2023 | Blog, Current Developments, News & Events, Past Developments, Portfolio, Uncategorised, Updates

16

March, 2023

TERRY’S CLOCK TOWER TICKS AGAIN

After 18 years, Terry’s Clock Tower clock is keeping time once more for the city of York

Thanks to the skills of specialist horologists and some deft detective work the rare mechanism needed to get the distinctive hands moving again has been reconstructed, and, at 12 noon on Wednesday March 15th, the famous clock started working again.

Managing director Georgina Livesey, said: “It was a momentous day and we are very grateful to the team at Smith of Derby for providing the skills to make it happen. The Terry’s clock was once known as the ‘kitchen clock of York’ and part of the City’s heritage and we are very proud to have played our part in seeing it restored.

“Terry’s is synonymous with York and the buildings are now saved and repurposed for generations to come.”

Smith of Derby were commissioned to restore the clock faces and track down original parts to recreate the mechanism in a project that has cost more than £60,000, funded jointly by P J Livesey and Henry Boot Developments who acquired the entire site when the factory closed.

Sales and complex projects manager for Smith of Derby, Martin Butchers, said: “It is hugely satisfying for everyone who has worked on the Terry’s project over the years to complete the job and see this magnificent rare clock keeping time for York once more. I hope Noel Terry would be pleased.”

The restored the original four clock faces etched with the words Terry York which were replaced in a massive operation in 2019.

The space will now become a Terry’s Clock Tower Museum, open on a limited number of days each year with visitors able to see the intricate clock workings and also to learn more about the story of Terry’s of York on boards compiled by local York resident Stan Young.

We will post updates on the Museum opening dates when announced.

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South Tower

by | Dec 11, 2020 | Blog, News & Events, Past Developments

11

DECEMBER, 2020

SOUTH TOWER, LANCASTER MOOR

Our extremely rewarding conversion of The Residence Lancaster Tower

Its three years since we completed the challenging but extremely rewarding conversion of Lancaster Moor at Lancaster.

All the apartments in this landmark Grade 2 listed building are wonderful but the six storey South Tower is uniquely special.

It took all our skill and ingenuity to transform it into a beautiful home and it was great to see it featured in the Bricks and Mortar property section of The Times.

READ IT HERE
While the living accommodation boasts a sleek ground floor kitchen/family area, two lounges on higher floors and a master suite and three more bedrooms, it is the top floor observation deck that captures the imagination with far reaching views to the Lake District and across Morecombe Bay.

It is a stunning home, utterly unique, obviously well-loved and we feel a long standing testament to the skill and vision of the PJ Livesey team when it comes to giving old buildings new life.

Quality stands the test of time

by | Feb 3, 2020 | Blog, Past Developments

03

FEBRUARY, 2020

QUALITY STANDS THE TEST OF TIME

We like to think we are helping leave a legacy, building homes that stand the test of time.

We know that a re-sale PJ Livesey property often carries a premium compared to similar properties in the same location.

The latest example is in Norwich where 15 years ago we converted Read Mills, a run-down complex of Grade II listed industrial warehouses and mills on the banks of the River Wensum close to the city centre.

We transformed this abandoned site, converting the original buildings and adding sympathetic new builds to create a thriving community of 155 new homes ranging from one bedroom apartments to the city’s first £1m penthouse.

We are immensely proud of the project which unlocked an important growth area, allowing for more investment to follow.

It has also allowed more people to enjoy the delights of the river and properties at Reads are still in demand.

The local paper recently highlighted the history of the scheme saying: “Years later, these apartments are still sought-after..” and highlights a two bedroom apartment on the market for £250,000

A picture gallery on our projects page shows the buildings before and after – Click here to view

READ IT HERE
We know that a re-sale PJ Livesey property often carries a premium compared to similar properties in the same location.

The latest example is in Norwich where 15 years ago we converted Read Mills, a run-down complex of Grade II listed industrial warehouses and mills on the banks of the River Wensum close to the city centre.

We transformed this abandoned site, converting the original buildings and adding sympathetic new builds to create a thriving community of 155 new homes ranging from one bedroom apartments to the city’s first £1m penthouse.

We are immensely proud of the project which unlocked an important growth area, allowing for more investment to follow.

It has also allowed more people to enjoy the delights of the river and properties at Reads are still in demand.

The local paper recently highlighted the history of the scheme saying: “Years later, these apartments are still sought-after..” and highlights a two bedroom apartment on the market for £250,000

A picture gallery on our projects page shows the buildings before and after – Click here to view

READ IT HERE

Restoring time itself

by | Dec 9, 2019 | Past Developments

09

December, 2019

RESTORING TIME ITSELF

The restoration of the iconic Terry’s Clock Tower in York is underway

Our repair and conversion of Terry’s Clock Tower has reached a significant milestone with the re-installation of the four restored clock dials and faces.

The distinctive dials were craned to the top of the 100ft tower and put back into place by experts from clockmakers Smith of Derby.

It is the first stage of our ambitious project to restore the clock back to working order and give the tower new use by converting the space into 22 unique properties.

Director James Woodmansee said: “Terry’s clock tower is a fundamental part of York’s history and it will be a significant moment for the City to have it working again. This is the first phase and we anticipate the clock mechanism will be installed towards the end of next year as the conversion works complete.”

The clock tower is one of five Grade II listed buildings that make up the purpose-built Terry’s factory estate next to the City’s racecourse. They include the main factory building, closed in 2005 and converted by us into 170 apartments in 2015. It is now one of York’s premier addresses with a penthouse selling for over £1million.

Among the residents living there is Peter Mortimer, 85, who worked at The Terry’s site for 42 years. He moved into a ground floor garden apartment when he became a widower and loves being part of Terry’s again.

He is also excited to see the famous clock keeping time once more.

He said: “I was an electrician for Terry’s and one of my jobs was to look after the clock. It will be tremendous to have it back working again as we have all missed it. I hope it keeps time as accurately as the original one did! “Seeing the dials hoisted into place was quite an occasion.”

As well as restoring the dials, the hands and the glass faces Smit of Derby are also making a new clock mechanism to the same specification as the original, which went missing between the factory closing and conversion work starting.

The firm’s technical sales consultant Peter Sully said: “It has taken 18 months of detective work across the country but we managed to track down identical parts and are now in a position to make the mechanism. It has been a very demanding process but it will be very satisfying to see the clock working again.”

The clock dials bear the words TERRY YORK in place of numerals and as it can be seen far and wide across York was often referred to as ‘the kitchen clock’ by many locals.

Work to convert the space into new homes is expected to take 12 months and there is already huge interest from buyers for the apartments which will be released for sale off plan from next May.

The final part of the project will be the creation of a separate floor to the clock level space to allow managed public access on a set number of days each year. Three boards, telling the story of Terry’s; the original clock manufacturers Gents and the PJ Livesey Project will be displayed there.

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Open House at The Cedars

by | Apr 2, 2019 | Blog, Community, Featured, News & Events, Past Developments, Sales Information, Updates

03

April, 2019

OPEN HOUSE AT THE CEDARS

The P J Livesey Group is opening the doors of The Cedars at 825 Wilmslow Road, Didsbury

Come and join P J Livesey for a one-off chance for the  public to take a look inside this historic Grade II listed house on Saturday April 6th.

Respected local historian Diana Leitch will be sharing stories of the property and describing how Didsbury would have been when the property was first built in 1857.

This is a unique opportunity ahead of work starting to convert the building into grand apartments. The house forms part of the redevelopment of the site into ‘825 Didsbury’, and is set to be the town’s most exclusive new address.

Places will be strictly limited due to space restrictions, and therefore will be allocated on a first come first served basis. You can f ind out more about the availability of spaces  here

Work elsewhere on site is well underway with construction of new houses already up to first floor level. The conversion of the existing Parklands building into sleek modern apartments is also progressing fast.

To keep up to date with the latest sales information along with first phase release dates at 825 Didsbury please register your interest.

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