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Gathering the Jewels features over 30,000 images of objects, books, letters, aerial photographs and other items from museums, archives and libraries throughout Wales.

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Home » Industry » Metal mining and manufacturing » Tinworks

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  • Major John Hanbury (1664-1734) developed the iron working industry which had been established in the Pontypool area since the 16th century. He developed the technique of rolling sheet iron and, in about 1720, he established the first permanent plant in the United Kingdom, dedicated to tinplate production. His family estate, still dominates the Pontypool environs.
Portrait of Major John Hanbury (1664-1734)
  • 17 July - 9 October 1874 The new term commenced on 13 July 1874. Two female pupils were appointed monitoresses, namely Margaret Summer and Janet Griffiths. Margaret was to receive 1 shilling and 6 pence per week, while Janet was paid one shilling a week. On 21 August, it is noted that attendance was low. A half day holiday was given on Thursday as a public tea was being held at Margam Park.
Extracts from log book of Margam Tinworks School, 1874-99: page 1 [image 1 of 10]
Doubler's clog and tin maker's tongs [image 1 of 2]
  • Tin plate rolling mill from Melyngriffith Tin Plate Works, Cardiff, manufactured at South Wales Foundry, Llanelli, 1910-11, with rolls manufactured at Millbrook Foundry, Swansea. The Welsh tinplate industry led the world from the early 19th century to the start of the 20th. At its peak it produced around 90 per cent of the world's tinplate as well as a large proportion of the world's galvanized sheets. The initial hot rolling of iron - later steel - bars into 'packs' of thin sheets was undertaken with a pack mill, such as the one shown here. This work was amongst the most prestigious in the industry and considerable skill and experience was required to prepare the sheets for their thin coating of molten tin. Most descriptions of the industry dwell at length upon the skill and teamwork required by pack mill crews to rapidly and repeatedly roll, double-over and re-roll the sheets before they cooled. The rollermen in charge of each mill held one of the most prestigious and well-paid of manual occupations and members of the pack mill crews required years of seniority as well as well-honed craft skills to achieve this coveted position. Pack mills epitomize uncodeable craft skills and teamwork coupled with immense physical labour undertaken in a gruelling working environment. Pack mills survive in only three museum collections; this is the sole surviving example to bear the name of the largest firm in the industry, Richard Thomas & Company, which grew in the early twentieth century to dominate the British tinplate industry.
Tinplate rolling mill from Melingriffith Tinplate Works, Cardiff, manufactured 1910-11 [image 1 of 3]
  • Carmarthen iron and tinworks was founded in 1748 by Robert Morgan, a man with extensive business interests in Carmarthenshire's iron and tin industries. This cast iron bell is inscribed 'T W W B: 1802 / R O / I MORGAN ESQ: & Co'.
Iron Bell from Carmarthen Iron and Tin Works, 1802
  • Meadow Mill was formerly the site of the rolling and hammer mill of the Greenfield Copper and Brass Company built in 1787. Following the closure of this mill, the buildings were later used as tinplate works between 1868 and 1874. The four large chimneys which are prominent in this photograph date from the period when the mill was used as a tinplate works.
Meadow Mill, Holywell, c. 1910