John Summers building restoration project aided by local volunteers and businesses

Local volunteers and businesses have come together to help a community-based group aiming to restore the former John Summers Steelworks headquarters building in Shotton.

Deeside-based Enbarr Foundation’s plans will see the building transformed into a community hub offering support to young and unemployed people finding local jobs in the area.

The group is also looking to redesign the gardens and create a museum celebrating the history of the area as well as giving people training opportunities through a library and community café.

Vicki Roskams, Director at Enbarr, says “everything” needs restoring to turn their vision into reality and has spent 12 months getting quotes in place, structural reports and potential designs.

Last year, the Grade II-listed building was put up for sale following the collapse of owners Pochin who were offering Enbarr the premises on a peppercorn rent and 250 year lease.

Since Pochin owed millions to creditors they had to recoup some losses, so administrators had to put 13.5 acres of land up for sale, including all the buildings on site.

Vicki said: “We have done extensive works on the gardens and outside area, as is showcased on our ‘Guardians of the Clocktower’ Facebook group but it has been with the goodwill and hardwork of the community and volunteers, as when we took back over the site after the auction which placed the project in doubt we went directly into COVID, so all funding dried up.

“Luckily, we had placed a small Lottery grant in, and they held it open until we could get a letter and agreement off the new owners, for which contributions have gone to buy equipment and make the site safe to facilitate the volunteers, or as we like to call them – the “Guardians”.

“Like I have said from the start, this project would not be viable had it not been for the passion of the community around it, and the passion that remains around the steelworks. Both Tata and some that have been ex-apprentices who now have their own businesses have stepped up to the plate and volunteered products and services, and I am honoured every time I speak to them.”

Those who have contributed to date are:

• Wilson Auctions – who bought the site from auction
• Ethikos Group & Delta Rock Group – who have offered to rewire electrics and retrain engineers
• Tata Steel – who provide electricity to secure the site
• Flintshire Roofing – for the labouring and repair of the roof
• GTM Heavy Rentals – for the support of Boom Lifts to remove plants and vegetation off the buildings
• P&A Group – for the offer of outdoor seating
• ABB Ltd – for their support in the gardens with tree surgery and training
• Buttress – for architectural guidance and support
• Delyn Safety – for Health and Safety consultancy and ensuring conformity to standards
• R.G. Pughe & Sons – for manhole work and ensuring the drainage was clear.

Vicki says the building needs to be restored as it is “the heart of the community and symbolises hope” as well as having history through surviving two wars in its time.

The John Summers building was built in 1907 and paved way for other organisations to follow, leading to Deeside being established as one of the world’s largest steel producers.

“This building is as synonymous to Deeside as the Liver Building is to Liverpool,” Vicki said.

To those who have volunteered so far, she added: “There is nothing more I can say, apart from a massive big thank you for just being amazing. I am humbled by every kind gesture that comes in, and like I said the other day – this has kicked off an amazing spirit within this community.

“Everywhere you go now, people are coming together and collaborating to support people through these times which is what the future generations act wanted to achieve with its wellbeing objectives, and if this project was the catalyst that started that then our work is done.”

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By Jordan Adams