An iconic building steeped in history is set to bring a new lease of life to a Merseyside town.
Having fallen in love with a building that "no-one was interested in" back in 1976, Ronald Musker and his family bought the Flat Iron Building in Prescot. Built in 1890 by Thomas Dennett, it was nicknamed because it looks like an old flat iron and still stands on Eccleston Street today.
Ron grew up in Huyton but fell in love with Prescot and has lived there since 1972. With a strong passion for clocks and watches, he said there are exciting plans in the pipeline to preserve the town's rich clockmaking history.
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After clearing the building to use as his shop, it has since been renovated again over the last three years with the hopes of celebrating its historical value. Working alongside clockmaker Phil Irvine and "genius" Jim Arnfield, a time ball and clock face will be installed at the building, all made in Prescot, further symbolising the watchmaking history.
The extremely unique time ball, first used in the 1800s, will descend at a key time in the day and the historical clock, made in Prescot in the early 1800s, will be visible for all to see. Ron says the plans are "remarkable" and he cannot wait to share the work with the public.
He told the ECHO : "This is very important for the town with such a history of clockmaking. This street 120 years ago had dozens of famous clockmakers here and 180 years ago, around 80% of watches started like in this town.
"The clock is the only Prescot signed turret clock we know of, it was on loan to the museum. Jim Arnfield is a genius and has designed the clockwork so at four minutes to one, a time ball will climb the pole inside and at one o'clock on the dot, it will fall.
"It's remarkable what's going to happen, people will be coming from everywhere to see it. Jim has invented many clocks, one for the queen, we don't know how lucky we are to have him. But there's an awful lot of work involved, it will be 10ft tall and Jim is designing it in a clear case so it can be seen.
"He's having a screen inside with different coloured levers and the mechanism is designed with safety in mind. Of course, everything has to be made. If Jim comes up with an idea, you can't just buy it off of a shelf.
"One of these hasn't been made for over 100 years and it hasn't been done the way we are doing it. The only thing we've done to the clock is made a new escape wheel, but it runs perfectly."
Further renovation works have also been completed inside the building, with stunning woodwork, new stair cases and the keeping of some original features such as a fire place and brand new windows and doors. Having spent a lot of his own money on it, Ron said he "loves the building", but at one point, was the "only one who did".
Now, the iconic building has been put up to let, but daughter Cheryl said there is a strict criteria to meet, despite having a huge interest. She added: "It's got to go to the right person.
"It should be a centre point, it needs to have its own moment in time. I personally want it to be a museum dedicated to the town, dad wants it opened up to the school children because it's incredible that this magnificent clock will be on display made in the town by a local clockmaker. He wants the schools to be involved to give children the learning and teaching of the towns history.
"You can't believe the amount of work gone on in here. The staircase, the doors, they are all manmade. It's unique, but we could've lost it. No-one was interested in it and my dad bought it.
"It was the same as the old Co-op building, it was run down and vandalised but he's done it all up, created jobs and kept many original features. But this building is iconic, how many other flat iron buildings do you see? If you don't preserve them, they go sadly but thankfully we still have this one.
"The renovations and love for the building brings it to life. On the top floor we found bits of clocks within the floor boards where the work benches were during the renovations. Clockmaking started here, it gave so many people a livelihood and if you are from Prescot, somewhere along the line you will have someone connected to the industry."
Ron, who has owned over 7,000 grandfather clocks, added: "I've got people interested in the building but it can't go to just anyone."
From 1978 to 2001, the family used the ground-floor of the building for their own retail clothing business which they are still known for in the town today. From 1992 to 2017, Continental Eyewear was also based on the first and second floors.
But now, exciting plans are in the pipeline to preserve the historical value of the building as Ron added a special thanks to all those involved in the project, including Ian Swindles who made he doors, Alan and Mick from Promart who made the stainless steel for behind the clocks and Shaun Heaton builders, who spent many hours on the building all "as a favour".
Speaking about the future plans, clockmaker Phil said: "It just all come together, we put our minds together."
Ron has always had a passion for clocks and watches, even from a young age, said the passion runs in his family and he would love to see the history preserved in the town. He told the ECHO: "Jim and Phil are working on this clock now, have been for a while. It's just incredible."
Do you have any memories of Prescot's own Flat iron Building? Let us know in the comments!
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