The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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White Rock Copper Works, Swansea

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 00829w
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : St Thomas
Unitary authority : Swansea
NGR : SS66339472
Site Type (preferred type first) : POST MEDIEVAL Copper works
Status : Scheduled Monument

Summary :
Established in 1736. A variety of important features survive above ground and the archaeological potential below-ground is very high. A furnace survives near the N end of the site underneath the later slag incline to the E tips.

Description :
Established in 1736. A variety of important features survive above ground and the archaeological potential below-ground is very high. A furnace survives near the N end of the site underneath the later slag incline to the E tips.

White Rock is the third oldest of the Swansea copper works, which was established by a partnership from Bristol at a time when copper smelting was switching from blast-furnace to reverbatory furnace technology. The works were closed in 1924 and the site was almost completely cleared in the 1960s. Nonetheless, it is the only early 18th century copper works site in Swansea to retain substantial (and indeed buried) remains. A cut-and-cover canal tunnel of 1783-85 remains on the site with the remnants of the much-altered 'Great Workhouse' of 1736 on its western side, featuring pennant rubble-sandstone with brick dressings. Also on the site is a re-excavated 17th century river dock, flanked on the north by a series of rubble-sandstone quays built in the 19th century. A stone arch in the middle of the site both carried flues to a discharge chimney and supported an inclined railway carrying vast quantities of waste onto Kilvey Hill (Gerrard 2007).

Geophysics and a field survey were carried out and four evaluation trenches were excavated. Three phases within the Great Workhouse (08420w) were uncovered, including an egg-shaped flue, a calcining furnace, two melting furnaces, and two firebrick furnaces. A possible Manilla house (08421w) was also investigated and evidence for a building of unknown use and lead ore assaying debris was recovered. (Harrison 2014)

Sources :
Gerrard, C. , 2007 , Hasties, Morfa Road, Swansea: archaeological desk-based assessment ( © GGAT)
Harrison, C. , 2014 , White Rock and Hafod Works, Swansea: Archaeological Evaluation and Assessment of Results
Maylan, N. , 2012 , River Tawe Collection: Photos of various sites along the River Tawe (45)
Reynolds P.R. , 1977 , Chauncy Townsend's Waggonway , Morgannwg : XXI : 42-68
Roberts R.O , 1979 , Enterprise and Capital for non ferrous metal smelting in Glamorgam 1694-1924 , Morgannwg : 23 : 48-82
Roberts R.O & Gibbs Elwyn D. , 1957 , The Copper Industry of Neath and Swansea. Record of a suit in the Court of Exchequer, 1723. , South Wales and Monmouth Record Society : 4 : 125-162
Toft L A , 1990 , A4067/A4217 Cross Valley Link at Pentrechwyth ( © GGAT)
Toft L A , 1991 , A4067/A4217 and Cross Valley Link at Pentrechwyth, Report on Watching Brief. ( © GGAT)
01/PM List/Cadw/1995/SAM List

Events :
E000007 : Hasties, Swansea (year : 2007)
E003883 : A4067/A4217 Cross Valley Link at Pentrechwyth (year : 1990)
E005913 : White Rock and Hafod Works, Swansea (year : 2014)
E005914 : White Rock and Hafod Works, Swansea (year : 2014)
E006760 : Land at 18-20 Princess Way, Swansea (year : 2021)

Related records
National Monuments Record NPRN 85092 http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/85092/details
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 1073W
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 2924W
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 02641w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 01064.0w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 00841w - 00843w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 00432w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 01073.0w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 02642w - 02653w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 02262w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 01585w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 08420w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 08421w

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April 2, 2025, 11:53 am - HTML file produced from GGAT HER Charitable Trust Ltd. Heathfield House, Heathfield, Swansea SA1 Tel. 01792 655208; Fax 01792 474469 website: www.ggat.org.uk  email: her@ggat.org.uk Registered Charity no. 505609
Data supplied by in partnership with Local Authorities, Cadw and the partners of ENDEX © GGAT HER Charitable Trust, 2025 (and in part © Crown, 2025).