Neath Abbey Iron Works -2007
The following is a description of the state of the Ironworks
written by David Topping (http://cistercian-way.newport.ac.uk/place.asp?PlaceID=70)
The iron works are just
outside the old abbey gate house, across the main road. They were established
by two Quaker families, the Foxes of Falmouth and the Prices, who had worked
with James Watt at Falkirk. They brought Cornish technical expertise in casting
and engineering to this part of south Wales. As you walk from the abbey to the
main road, straight ahead of you is Ty Mawr, the ironmastersÕ house, built by
Peter Price in 1801. A plaque commemorates Joseph Tregelles Price, founder of
the Peace Society.
There is now no entrance
to the ironworks from the main road, though you can peer through the gates of
the buildersÕ yard and see the engine manufactory and the great masonry furnaces.
Turn right at the abbey gatehouse then left up Tyllwyd Road. Just after the
railway viaduct, a path goes down to your left. Cross the Clydach brook by the
old tramroad bridge.The parapet of the bridge is made from carved blocks of
copper slag which probably came from the works in the abbey. Under the bridge
is a weir which would have held water back to power the iron works. You can
turn left again after the bridge for a closer look at the iron works.
The most impressive part
of the ruins are the late eighteenth-century furnaces, two of the highest
masonry blast furnaces ever constructed. The casting houses which would have
stood in front of them have gone, but you can still the line of the railway
which would have taken materials to the charging houses at the top of the
furnaces.
A little further on, the
roofless building to the right of the entrance, behind the ironmastersÕ house,
is the shell of the engine manufactory. A projecting wing of this building
extended towards the Clydach river and a water wheel powered by a leat from
higher up the stream drove a series of machines. Much of the machinery for the
works was made on site. There were two cylinder-boring workshops on the ground
floor of this building, a fitting shop and smithy. Upstairs was the
pattern-makersÕ workshop.
Opposite the furnaces and almost
completely overgrown (you can just see them in winter) are the ruins of the
forge with its water-wheel housing. Here there was a wrought iron bar and
tinplating mill.