Love it or hate it, the Mowlem building is now an instantly recognisable part of Swanage. This clock (there's another on the north wall) features four iconic images associated with Swanage.

The original Mowlem Institute building was opened in 1863 by John Mowlem, renowned local businessman and philanthropist who made his money paving London's streets with Purbeck stone. (John was the uncle of that other famous Swanage businessman, George Burt.) Mowlem gave a great deal to Swanage - including the clock tower, the facade of the town hall, the famous iron bollards - as well as his name on the Institute he founded to further the education and welfare of the townspeople. The Institute included reading rooms and a meeting space, and came complete with an endowment to maintain and manage it. In 1967 the old building made way for the new, which still includes meeting rooms used for lectures and other educational purposes, as well as our cinema / theatre and retail / refreshment outlets.