The CQS Solutions team delved into the history books in a project for a Welsh town council which involved two of the town’s most historic buildings.
Machnylleth Town Council commissioned CQS Solutions to prepare a reinstatement cost assessment on the historic Plas Machynlleth and its clock tower as well as the town’s war memorial.
Plas Machnylleth is a Grade II* listed Georgian building and forms a central tourist focus in the centre of the town. Also in a prominent position in the town is the clock tower which was originally built in 1873.
The war memorial, opposite St Peter’s Church, was unveiled in 1924 as a memorial for the men of Machynlleth who fell during both world wars. It also serves as a focal point for the community.
The historical and architectural importance of the buildings as well as their significance to the town and its community made the task more than a straightforward valuation exercise of the buildings.
The CQS Solutions team, led by Zoe Clifton, appreciated that the history of the buildings was an important element in the reinstatement calculations.
It meant that research into the buildings’ history, an understanding of restoration and a wide building knowledge were all key in providing an accurate reinstatement cost as all these elements would be considered if a claim was required.
The team’s research covered the full history of the Plas Machynlleth building and its town clock back as far as the 15th century when the mansion, originally known as Greenfields, was owned by the family of the Marquess of Londonderry.
The clock tower was originally built in 1873 to celebrate the 21st birthday of the eldest son of the Fifth Marquess of Londonderry. It is now owned by Machynlleth Town Council and used as a community hall.
The town clock stopped working in September 2020 and in November 2023 it had a complete refurbishment for the clock mechanism and stone structure and is now in full working order.
The team also had to take into account the history of the war memorial which was unveiled in 1924 by the Marquess of Londonderry and was created as a memorial for the men of Machynlleth who fell during both world wars.
The final reinstatement cost of the two historic buildings was set at over £11million.