GGAT00841w

The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record

The following information has been provided under the terms and conditions of access as detailed on GGAT�s website www.ggat.org.uk. Copyright is reserved on all data supplied by the GGAT HER Charitable Trust. All output resulting from the use of the data must acknowledge the source as follows:-
Derived from information held by the GGAT HER Charitable Trust copyright.

The data below is intended to be used for information and research only and is not for use as part of a commercial project. If you wish to use information derived from material held by the GGAT HER Charitable Trust for publication in printed or multimedia form or to compile resources for commercial use, prior permission must be obtained in writing. For further information or to arrange a visit to the Trust please send an enquiry form http://www.ggat.org.uk/her/english/enquiry_form.html to her@ggat.org.uk.

Morfa Copper Works

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 00841w
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Landore
Unitary authority : Swansea
NGR : SS66109525
Site Type (preferred type first) : Unknown Copper works

Summary :
Morfa Copper Works. Established in 1834 by William Foster & Co. None of the original buildings remain although a series of different types structures on the site are of interest.

Description :
Morfa Copper Works. Built in 1834 by William Foster & Co. Located northwest to the nearby Hafod Copper Works site, a separate copper works in Landore. Morfa was the later of the two largest copperworks in the world during most of the 19th century (Hafod Works being the other). (ref. Hughes, 31) They both were developed on the marshlands of Hafod Farm. (Hughes, 303).

Fuel was provided via the Swansea Canal and Pentre Coal-Pit railway since its construction in 1830 replacing the older Penyfilia Pit Railway. (ref. Hughes, 306)

In 1840 Silver works were added. 1888 Linked with Frankfurt Metalgessellschaft of Germany. 1893 Merged with Pascoe Grenfall and Sons. 1924 British Copper Manufacturers Ltd and incorporated in Hafod works. 1928 ICI Ltd. 1929 Silver works dismantled. (ref. L. Q. Toft scrap paper) None of the original buildings remain. A series of structures with dates ranging from the 1870s to the mid 19th century have been found to be of interest: Foster's Powerhouse (1870's), Old cast-house (late 19th C.), New cast-house (1880's or earlier), Engine house (1860-2)) and Rolling mills (1830's), Machine shop and offices (mid 19th C).

Descriptions of the site's structures--- Foster's Powerhouse (PRN 08088w): casing walls of rubble masonry with good ashlar quoins and dressings. Good cast iron 'aisled' roof structure in four bays with the outer bays shorter than inner ones. Site is illustrated in 'Treadgold on Carpentry.' Old Cast-house and house and Rolling mills: Iron grinder roof panels to minimise damage in the case of an explosion (only a small area of roof would blow off). Modern structures inside show how flues and chimneys could be erected as and where required, sometimes connecting to a main permanent stack. New Cast-house- Original roundheaded cast-iron casement windows. Adjacent is the Recovery Area (former Yellow Metal Mill), possibly the site of earlier furnaces. Earlier that the New Cast-house, with brick carnive and dressings of yellow & black brick. Engine House- Rubble masonry. Interior has not been examined. Adjacent is the Rolling Mills (the cold rolls). Designed in the 1930's they were ventilated with open arcades, with circular openings and spindrels, between the arches. The mill was transformed in the 1840s into a surviving huge hall-like building with open sides to the east and west and with tall cast-iron columns supporting a timber wall plate and the roof. ( ref Hughes, 32) Powered by a 1910 horizontal steam engine driving the master-drum of the rolls by wire rope. Machine Shop- stine walls, arched open with cast-iron windows. Part of the original wooden roof-structure remains. Offices- fairly elaborate stone building with ashlar dressings. Interior modernised. (ref. OS record sheet).

An extension of Neath Road was built to form the spine of the new and expanding semi-urban settlement of Landore between 1826-1838. Morfa and Hafod Copperworks and copper workers' houses were accessible along this road.(Hughes, 168)

In 1985 the Morfa copperworks was considered for renovation for an industrial museum to bring tourism. The sites problem with large-scale vandalism was dealt with by installing security gates, fences, watchmen and vandal-proof night lighting around the site area. Renovation work included weather proofing the former canteen, the old workshop and the clock tower buildings to prevent further deterioration (ref. Western Mail 10 Dec. 1985).

Full development and historical timelines, and a detailed survey of extant buildings and the areas which surround them, may be found in the report: The Yorkshire Imperial Metals Site: A Site Appraisal (N Ludlow, 2002).

Significant individual buildings and features also have separate PRNs , listed in Cross references below.

Sources :
Hughes, S , 2000 , Copperopolis
Ludlow, N , 2002 , The Yorkshire Imperial Metals Site: A Site Appraisal (

© GGAT)
05/Mm Desc Text/GGAT/
04/Mm Desc Text/Western Mail/10.12.85/Copperworks need protection - report/*
03/Pm Map/OS/1984?/*
02/Pm Mention/Lower Swansea Valley Project/Hilton,K.J./1967/*
01/Pm Desc Text/RCAHM/8.8.78/*

Events :
E003883 : A4067/A4217 Cross Valley Link at Pentrechwyth (year : 1990)
E004112 : Hafod Copperworks test pits, Swansea: archaeological watching brief (year : 2004)
E004529 : Hafod Copperworks (year : 2008)
E004887 : The Yorkshire Imperial Metals site, Swansea (year : 2002)
E004114 : Hafod Copperworks Buildings Swansea (year : 2012)
E006386 : Morfa Distributor Road, Swansea (year : 2015)
E007585 : Hafod-Morfa Copperworks, Neath Road, Swansea (year : 2018)
E007586 : Hafod-Morfa Copperworks, Neath Road, Swansea (year : 2018)

Related records
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) PR4
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 02641w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 01046.0w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 00842w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 00843w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 00432w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 01073.0w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 00829w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 01073w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 02642w - 2653w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 02262w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 01585w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 08087w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 08091w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 01046.35w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 02423w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 08088w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 08219w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 08220w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 08221w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 08222w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 08223w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 08224w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 08225w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 08226w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 08227w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 08238w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 08239w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 08240w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 08241w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 08242w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 08243w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 08244w

Compiled date :

April 2, 2025, 11:47 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).