Aberdulais Tinplate Co
of Aberdulais, near Neath, Glamorgan, Wales
c.1830 Tinplate manufacture began at Aberdulais - the site had previously been used for copper smelting, for a corn mill, and then for ironworking, all powered by the Aberdulais Falls.
c.1890 the upper works were abandoned
1914 Advert: 'ABERDULAIS, NEAR NEATH.
SALE OF LEASEHOLD TIN-PLATE WORKS, FIXED AND LOOSE PLANT, MATERIALS, AND STOCKS
MESSRS. W. HARRY REES and SON (F.A.I.) are instructed by the Liquidator of Messrs. Joshua Williams and Co., Limited (in Voluntary Liquidation), to SELL by AUCTION, at the Castle Hotel, Neath, on WEDNESDAY, the 8th April, 1914, at Four p.m.,
the ABERDULAIS TIN-PLATE WORKS, with the FIXED and LOOSE PLANT and STOCKS, together with the 19 COTTAGES, situate in Queen's-square, Aberdulais, and MEADOW on the RIVERSIDE, comprising about 5 acres, held under lease for 43 years from 25th December, 1895, at annual ground rent, including water rights, of £250.
The Works consist of stone and brick buildings, and include boiler-house, containing 2 Lancashire boilers and one Stirling boiler and Green’s patent economiser; mills, fitted with 6 mills, driven by Galloway and Waddell engines; cold roll room, fitted with 9 pairs cold rolls, driven by vertical tandem engine, with 2 pumps; tinhouse, fitted with 4 tinning sets, dusting and branning machines; annealing, pickling department, with Gray's pickling machine and 3 furnaces, assorting rooms, carpenters’, blacksmiths’, and fitting shops, copperas shed, scruff-house, weighbridge office, with weighing machine, store houses, bar-cutting shed, principal and general offices, house, with dynamo and engine.
The Tramway laid throughout the Works connect same with the Works Siding the G.W.R.
The Water Supply is ample and free, secured by lease end is obtained from the Neath Canal and River Neath.
The Loose Plant and Effects will be included in the Sale, and must be taken at the price stated in the Conditions of Sale, and the Unsold Stock of Black-plates and Tin-plates taken at a Valuation.
Descriptive Particulars and Conditions of Sale apply to the Auctioneers at their offices at Neath and Port Talbot; or to Messrs. E. P. Morgan and Co., Solicitors.'[1]
1937 British Industries Fair Advert for Welsh Tinplate Works. As part of Richard Thomas and Co. (Engineering/Metals/Quarry, Roads and Mining/Transport Section - Stand No. D.328).
1937 British Industries Fair Advert pp. 666 and 667; and p325
1939 The company was wound up[2] at the same place and using the same liquidator as several other Richard Thomas and Co subsidiaries. The lower works were abandoned.
The visible remains, which include a reconstructed water wheel, belong to the tinplate period. Also include an impressive masonry header tank (the 'bastion'), the foundations of the adjoining rolling-mills, various walls and an eighteen metre high chimney. The site is in the care of the National Trust. See photo.
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] Coflein - Aberdulais