Twisted Chimney rebuild begins with heritage project supported by UK Government

The Twisted Chimney (Welsh: Simnai Ddirdro) will be restored after a community survey showed a majority of people were in favour of renewing the weather-damaged structure.

The works are possible thanks to Caerphilly County Borough Council’s allocation of £114,395.28 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) under the W4 intervention. Funds spent under this intervention must be used to refurbish or restore local cultural and heritage assets.

The decision to fund the project follows a community survey undertaken in February 2024. 55% of respondents said they would prefer for the sculpture to be maintained and renewed. Respondents contacted the Council through the Caerphilly Conversation website or paper surveys. Local people also attended engagement sessions in Ael-y-Bryn Community Centre and Rhymney Library.

The majority of respondents who wanted to renew the Twisted Chimney said that heritage was the main reason for their vote. Respondents also said the monument is a gateway to Caerphilly county borough. Most people responding to the survey live in the Bute Town and Rhymney area.

Whilst the focus of the engagement was on residents from the Rhymney area, and stakeholders, which could include those who have previously lived in Rhymney,. those with family connections, an interest in the heritage of the valleys, those who work or visit also shared their views on the future of the sculpture.

One respondent said “It’s a beautiful piece of artwork and when I lived in Bute Town it came to represent home to me. When we moved away my husband literally commissioned a painting of the Twisted Chimney for me.”

The Twisted Chimney, designed by New York-based artist Brian Tolle, was unveiled in 2011. The Chimney stands 8 metres high at the very northern tip of the Rhymney Valley. Its aim is to create a vision of the post-industrial heritage rather than being a literal depiction of the area’s past. Sited near the former Union Ironworks, the artwork was created with input from the residents of Bute Town.

The Chimney is cladded with plywood and hard-coated polystyrene which had fallen into disrepair due to adverse weather. The structure will be stripped and transported to Cardiff piece-by-piece, where See What We Can Make Ltd. will strip away the rotten material and enhance the sculpture with new cladding and a marine-grade coating to ensure longevity and value for money.

The existing brick-like façade will be enhanced in the workshop before the sculpture is re-erected in March 2025.

Cllr Carl Cuss, County Councillor for Twyn Carno, commented “The issue of the Twisted Chimney did cause quite a debate, whether to replace or not. I think the opportunity of receiving external funding with no cost to the council to repair the sculpture, persuaded the residents to support its retention. I would urge the contractors to ensure lessons are learnt by the previous design and to ensure its weather protected. As a man who respects democracy, we will now proceed with the repair of the Twisted Chimney sculpture, and I thank residents for their engagement during this consultation.”