The Industrial Revolution in Tir Y Brenin (Gorseinon)
By
D. Tom Davies
To set the scene of Tir Y
Brenin’s greatest industrial activity in modern times, we have to return once
again to its eastern quarter where the bondmen worked, tilling the king’s demesne
and where the “Mardy” was located.
The industrial revolution in
Tir Y Brenin made a very late start in comparison with the other areas in South
Wales. However, one cannot completely ignore the fact that the monks of Neath
Abbey had, at least, set up a grist mill at Melin Mynach since the 12th
Century, utilising the waters of the river Lliw from Rhydymorfa as its driving
force.
The miller at Melin Mynach,
Thomas Roberts played a prominent part in the revolt of 1575. Little is known
about its activities during the 17th Century, but by 1735, it was
occupied by Thomas Selman, who introduced an entirely new industry into the
area, when Melin Mynach became a paper mill. He got into trouble with the
authorities of the borough of Swansea in 1738 owing to his refusal to pay the
dues on imported goods.
Another reference to Thomas
Selman’s mill appears in the Loughor Court Leet minutes for 18th
April, 1746. It reads – “Presented Gertrude Mackworth for not securing and
repairing a water course leasing from Thomas Selman’s mill to Loughor Mill and
for not minding the bridge erected thereon.”
In the Cameron Estate Act,
it states that in 1784 – a water corn grist mill and a paper mill called Melin
Mynach was in the tenure of Jemima Selman.
The industrial expansion of
Tir Y Brenin can be attributed to three factors :-
The Development of Coal
Mining
The development of the coal
mining industry in the area originated with Mr. Harry’s coalworks at Coalbrook.
These were later exploited by Lieutenant Colonel Cameron of Cwrt Y Carne, who
in 1844-1845 formed the company called “The Cameron Steam Coal Swansea &
Loughor Railway Co.” with a capital of £200,000 for the purpose of working the
coal under his estates and transporting it to the port of Swansea. The railway
was to run from Melin Mynach to Rhydydefyd in Swansea. Such a railroad was
constructed but however, not well managed and was eventually abandoned.
Undaunted, in 1848 Colonel
Cameron opened negotiations with the borough of Loughor to reopen a railroad
over the common to the Broadoak wharf at Loughor. The Colliery Co. was to pay
the annual rent of £10 and a wayleave of 1d per tonne of coal and other
materials carried over the land. The railroad was closed in 1866 when a siding
to Loughor Common Station (Gorseinon) was opened.
In 1846 a drift known as the
Mountain Colliery was opened in the same area and this coal was transported to
the wharves at Loughor. The Sterry Bros. took over the coalworks in 1850 whilst
a shaft was sunk in 1900, when the Swansea Navigation Co. acquired the Sterry
interests in the Colliery.
The Growth of Communications
Communications, especially
with the port of Swansea were vital to the successful industrial development of
the locality. Although Colonel Cameron had laid the foundations for the
effective linking up of the area with the port of Swansea, it was in 1854 that
the first successful venture was undertaken by the “Swansea Docks & Mineral
Vallies Railway” of connecting Tir Y Brenin with Swansea Docks. The railway
company called the locality “Llew”.
In 1860 the Llanelly Dock
& Railway Co. constructed a railway connecting their northern railway at
Pontarddulais with the port of Swansea. The local station was called Loughor
Common to distinguish it from the already existing Loughor Station. After the
London North Western Railway took over the line in September 1873 from the
Llanelly Dock and Railway Co. the station was called “Gorseinon”.
The Founder of Gorseinon’s Prosperity
The rise of Gorseinon from
an insignificant little hamlet to its present day size and prosperity can be
attributed in no small measure to the enterprise and initiative of William
Lewis and his three sons. It was in the late 1860’s that the Lewis family moved
from Melin Llan, Penllergaer, where they had been carrying on a weaving trade,
to reside at Melin Mynach, Rhydymaerdy, along the banks of the river Lliw. Here the process of weaving was continued
with such success that William Lewis was enabled to purchase the surrounding
land and also the small farm of Gors Wadden.
It does not require a very
vivid imagination to picture the hamlet of Rhydymaerdy in the 1860’s. It
consisted of a mere handful of widely scattered cottages dispersed over a low
lying expanse of moorland. The road from Penllergaer finished at the Mardy ford
over the river Lliw. The road from Pontarddulais finished at the entrance to
Loughor Common, at a point near the present site of the Old Mountain Colliery.
The road from Kingsbridge ended at the boundary of Loughor Borough in West
Street near Rhydypolon and the road from Loughor also finished at the boundary
of Loughor near New Lodge. Where highways existed they were merely tracks
totally unfit for traffic, across the open lands, the site of the present town
of Gorseinon.
Until the building of the
bridge over the river Lliw in 1868, the river was crossed by means of a ford,
which originated the name “Rhydymaerdy”.
The bridge was built by John
Dillwyn Llewelyn of Penllergare, father of Sir John Talbot Dillwyn Llewelyn and
was originally of three spans with stone arches. This was replaced by a modern
single spanned concrete bridge built by Llwchwr U.D.C.
A former station master at
Gorseinon, Mr. Thornhill, a native of Llanwrtyd Wells, writing in his diary in
May 1872 describes the hamlet of Rhydymaerdy in the following words :-
“I have a clear recollection of the place before Messrs.
William
Lewis and Sons built the Gorseinon Tinplate Works. There
was
Then only the vitriol works and chemical works, because
tinplates
were made with charcoal at that time, or rather heated
with it before
rolling.
The station at that time was very pretty and well kept by
the station
Master, Mr. Francis, flowers on the platform with also
roses and
nice country all around.
There were only six houses within a radius of half a mile
and
No houses anywhere near the station. The nearest were
those
Of Mr. Rees – Rhydymaerdy and a cottage where the church
School room is now, tenanted by Charles Cox- haulier at
the oil
Vitriol works. The next houses were the Mason’s Road
white-
Washed cottages and a mill in Mason’s Road worked by Mr.
Davies
Pontybrenin House. There were two small houses on Loughor
Road
Between Kingsbridge and Coedbrydwen and three houses
between
There and Penuel Chapel.
On
the Penlleraer side of the station were Spring, Gorse Waddan and afterwards
only common land to Penquar and over to Swansea Road.
Between
Gorseinon Station and Corporation Public House, Loughor
There
were only three houses and the remains of a tramline from
The
Mountain Colliery to the Broadoak siding.
Penyrheol
was then only a small place with not more than a dozen
Houses
including the row by the Mountain Colliery (Brynteg Row)
On
the road to Grovesend.
The main roads at Gorseinon
were constructed in about 1867 upon the initiative of William Lewis. He made an
appeal to the local gentry and farmers for subscriptions towards the cost of
making the proposed new roads connecting up those which ended at the parish
boundaries.
It is of interest to note
that in the year 1870 the number of ratepayers in the whole hamlet of Tir Y
Brenin was 66 and the rateable value was £855.1s.5d.
The rates being 1/- in the
£1 for the first half year and 9d in the £1 for the second half, making a total
of 1/9d in the £1 for the year.
Prior to 1876, the only Post
Office in the Gorseinon District was that at Penllergaer, opened in 1852 and
all letters had to be sent there. On 25th March, 1876, an agreement
was made between the Railway Company and the firm of William Lewis & Sons
whereby, for the annual payment of £2 – a despatch bag was to be sent each
morning from the Swansea Post Office with all the letters for the Gorseinon
area, returning the same evening with outward letters. All the letters for the
Gorseinon District were for some years, received and despatched daily in this
way and all the letters received were distributed free of charge to the
residents by Messrs. William Lewis & Sons.
In 1875 William Lewis
rebuilt the mill at Melin Mynach and produced welsh flannel to satisfy the
needs of the people of the surrounding districts. He also took his goods for
sale at the local fairs held twice yearly at Gowerton, Loughor, Llangyfelach
and even Neath.
In 1881 Messrs. S. Rees and
R. H. Pritchard of the Mansel Works, Port Talbot introduced a new industry into
the locality in the form of a tinplate works – the Gorseinon Tinplate Works-
familiarly known as the Old Works, on the land owned by the Lewises. Only two
mills were laid down, but from the start things did not go well for them, with
the result that the venture ended in failiure.
In February 1885 the Lewises
plunged into the steel and tinplate trade for the first time, when they took
over the Old Works and extended the plant to include six mills and a finishing
department.
A second tinplate works was
opened in December 1886 when a flour mill plant was started by Messrs. W. L.
Agnew, Joseph Harrop and D. Griffiths. This was known as the Grovesend Tinplate
works. Their interests were sold in October 1904, to the Grovesend Steel &
Tinplate Co. Ltd.
Prior to 1890, when the
Grovesend Steelworks was built by the same Company as the tinplate works, the
local tinworks were entirely dependant upon Hendy Forge for iron to make the
tinplate.
By this time, William Lewis
went into semi-retirement and entrusted the management of his business
interests to his three sons, David, William Rufus and Thomas. He gave up the
weaving mill and bought Bryngwyn Farm. However, he continued to live at Melin
Mynach and employed a bailiff at the Farm. His main concern was buying heifers
and fattening them for sale to the butchers of the district.
The introduction of industry
meant the influx of workers into the area and the necessity of housing them.
The old hamlet was gradually being swallowed up by the village. Mill Street,
High Street and Railway Terrace were extended, whilst other streets followed
with further industrial development. Most of these were constructed by Messrs.
William Lewis & Sons at their own expense upon the lands which they had
acquired from the Cameron Estates.
Gorseinon’s prosperity was
short lived, for in 1891 a recession occurred in the tinplate industry when the
Mckinley Tariff imposed an embargo on the importation of tinplate into the USA.
In 1894 the mass unemployment caused by this tariff forced the millmen to share
the amount of work available by agreeing to limit their output to 36 boxes per
mill, per shift. Such as move was resisted by a few manufacturers who were
better placed in the matter of orders.
Disputes between management
and workers developed into a long drawn out strike which lasted for seven
months and led to the break up, through lack of funds, of the union known as
“Undeb Twm Phill.” It was during this strike that the Riot Act was first read
in Gorseinon and baton charges were made by the police on the workers. The
prelude to the incident was the introduction of black legs by the tinplate
manufacturers. Men from neighbouring Pontarddulais came along to try and impede
the introduction of such black legs with the result that they clashed with the
local police.
Cuts of up to 25% in wages
were introduced by the masters, but these reductions were made good within a
year through the intervention of the Conciliation Board.
In spite of the above
mentioned incident, labour relations were generally trouble free. If a
grievance arose, an employee could face the manager across his desk or even as
he came through the works on the way to his office. Many are the tales told of
William Lewis and the close interest he took in the running of his works. His
early daily appearance clad in a long black coat, and the mutual agreement,
which no doubt followed in other works too,
By which, during a period of
trade recession, one day’s wages in every week was retained by the employers as
an inducement to keep going.
In 1897 the Lewis Family
built their own steelworks and named it Bryngwyn Steelworks. It was more modern
in many ways than the Grovesend works . The furnaces were larger and re-heating
arrangements for ingots were installed. These were mechanically driven, which
meant that the output was greater.
The Cambrian Daily Leader
records the death of Gorseinon’s founder in the following words.
“Early on Thursday morning April 10th, 1902,
the death took place
of Mr. William Lewis, the founder of Messrs. W. Lewis
& Sons,
tinplate manufacturers, Gorseinon. After a brief illness
at his
residence, Melin Mynach, at the advanced age of 79 years.
Nearly
half a century ago Mr. Lewis established himself in business
At
a time when the inhabitants could be almost numbered on one’s
Fingers.
After years of perseverance, he began and completed in
1880
– the Gorseinon Tin Works. From that date the development
of
the place has become a centre of industry with a population
of
upwards 2,000.
Shortly
afterwards with the assistance of Sir John T.D. Llwewlyn and the late Mr.
Howell Gwyn, the Dyffryn, Neath, a church was built, Mr. Lewis giving the land
upon which Holy Trinity stands.
At
the same time Mr. Lewis built at his own expense, the schoolroom for the use of
the church as a Sunday School and had since acted as Church Warden. He took a
great interest in all matters connected with the church and was a firm adherent
of the Conservative Party.
As
an encourager of thrift, he became interested in Friendly Societies.
The
Lodge bearing his name is one of the strongest in the district. In his early
life he represented the parish of Llandeilo-Talybont and also took an active
part in the volunteer movement at its commencement, being considered one of the
best shots in the county. In his later years the deceased took a great interest
in farming and agriculture.”
The Cambrian Daily Leader
for Friday 6th February, 1903, describes the ceremony of unveiling a
stained glass window and memorial tablet in memory of the late Mr. William
Lewis, Melin Mynach, at Holy Trinity Church, Gorseinon. The Service was
conducted by the Rev. W. C. Morgan, vicar of Pontarddulais and Sir. John T.D.
Llewelyn unveiled the window. The sermon was preached by the Ve. Dean Owen
Evans, M.A., Archdeacon of Carmarthen, who referred in suitable terms to the
life and work of Mr. Lewis. The window is a representation of Tubal Cain.
The Memorial Tablet bore the
following inscription :-
“This window is dedicated to the praise and glory of God,
on the 3rd February, 1903, and erected in
memory of the
late William Lewis who for 20 years was vicar’s warden
of this church and founder of Gorseinon, who died on the
10th of April, 1902, and was interred at
Penlleraer (R.I.P)
Erected by members of Holy Trinity and friends.”
After the service a large
number of friends were entertained at Argyle House by Dr. & Mrs. Trafford
Mitchell.
The Lewis Co. built the
Bryngwyn Sheetworks in 1908, which consisted of six Staffordshire Mills. This
trade was new to South Wales, which meant the influx of men from the Midlands
who had the necessary expertise.
In an article entitled “The
Taffs and the Staffs” which appeared in the Evening Post, A.J. Maddox wrote “
Never was there a more incongruous juxta-position of two peoples. The temperance
minded, chapel going Welsh families, still feeling the soul-stirring effects of
the Evan Roberts religious revival of just four years before, as opposed to the
tough, easy going, hard-drinking strangers, and it speaks well for the
tolerance and understanding of both sides that the absorption took place so
smoothly. This said, it must not be assumed that the newcomers were wholly
irreligious and pleasure-loving, for in their ranks was at least a leavening of
deep-thinking people and even a few lay-preachers, who brought with them
something of the Old Black Country tradition of fiercly independent
nonconformist belief.”
The last of the tinplate
works to be built at Gorseinon was started in 1910 and traded as the Mardy
Tinplate Co. This Company was not directly connected with the other business
concerns of the Lewis family. However, its directors were Col. D. Lewis, W. Rufus Lewis, Thomas
Lewis, David Richards of Pantyffynon and David Jones of Gorseinon.
In June 1919 owing to
advancing years, the Lewis Brothers sold for approximately £25,000, the vast
undertaking they had built up to the Grovesend Steel & Tinplate CO, which
had formed a combine. The firm of Richard Thomas joined the combine in 1922.
Under the aggressive leadership of Henry Folland and Sir William Firth, the
Grovesend firm made rapid progress. They proceeded to revolutionise the works.
Grovesend Steel had a larger melting shop, bigger furnaces and a new mill.
Grovesend Tin had four new mills, whilst the Gorseinon Old Works was built anew
with ten mills. The sheet mills had four new mills and a new cold rolls. The
combine also took over the Sports Ground and dumped approximately 8,000 tons of
rubble to drain and level the same.
The erection of the cold
reduction plants at Velindre and Trostre were soon to sound the death-knell of
the old hand mills. The inevitable closure began in March 1957 when the
Gorseinon Tinplate works (Mills Dept.) closed down. To be followed by the
tinhouse section in October 1957. In September 1957 the Mardy Tinplate Mills
closed down, followed by the tinhouse section in December 1957. At the same
time, it was announced that the Grovesend Steelworks would shortly be closed,
this occurred on the 18th January, 1958.
It can truthfully be said
that the closure of the old hand mills marked the end of an era in the social
and economic life of the community.
The prophets of gloom were
quick to predict that Gorseinon would become a ghost town. However, they had
not reckoned with the efforts of the Llwchwr U.D.C. to attract new industries
into the area, nor with the suitability of the region as a centre of industry.
The economic recovery of the town, although gradual, was materially helped by
the factories established in the area some years before the hand mill closures,
such as those built by J.B. Furs and 3M’s.
Furthermore, the industrial
revival experiences by Gorseinon in the last three decades has been marked by a
diversification of industry as opposed to the excessive reliance on two or
three major staple industries. The rapid expansion witnessed in the new Garn
Goch Industrial undertaking testifies to the wisdom of attracting a variety of
small firms into the area.
