The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Cefn Cribwr Bedford Ironworks

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 01407m
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Cefn Cribwr
Unitary authority : Bridgend
NGR : SS852835
Site Type (preferred type first) : POST MEDIEVAL Iron works / POST MEDIEVAL Iron works
Status : Scheduled Monument

Summary :
The watching brief at Bedford Park, Cefn Cribwr (A094). Located the remains of blast furnace and associated buildings standing in woodland. These consist of stone blast furnace, charging platform and beehive coke ovens.

Description :
The remains of blast furnace and associated buildings standing in woodland. Remains consist of stone blast furnace, charging platform, beehive coke ovens.

Most of the land immediately adjacent to the Nant Iorwerth Goch appears to have been wasteland until its industrialisation towards the end of the 18th century. The most significant remains of the period are those of the Bedford Ironworks (alsok nown as Cefn Cribwr Ironworks), built by John Bedford in the1780s. The surviving remains include a blast furnace, with, to the south, a building, housing six rooms on three levels, which would have supported the charging ramp, and, to the north, the remains of the cast house.

Two separate structures include a blowing engine house, to the east, and a calcining kiln house, to the south. The ironworks appear to have operated intermittently until the 1830s.

After the construction of the Bedford Ironworks, other industries were established in the area. These included, within the park's boundaries, coal- and ore-mining, as is indicated by drift mines and bell pits, and a brickworks which operated until after the First World War. Its remains are still visible to the
south of the car park.

The Bedford Iron Works at Cefn Cribwr have been neglected for over 150 years. John Bedford came to live in this area during the latter part of the C18th, around c. 1773 a blast furnace was built together with associated buildings such as a cast house (01123m), engine house and ore pre-heating kilns. (07)

Sources :
Marvell, A.G., Wilkinson, P.F. and Williams, D. , 1996 , Excavations at the Bedford Ironworks, Cefn Cribbwr, 1992-1994 , Archaeology in Wales : 36 : 36 - 42
Ordnance Survey , 1st Edition OS map 6"
Thorney R. , 1989 , Bedford Iron Works
Wilkinson P. , 1992 , Waun Cimla, Cefn Cribwr, An Archaeological Survey ( © GGAT)
Wilkinson, P. F. , 1993 , Interim Report on Excavations at The Bedford Ironworks Cefn Cribwr, 1992 ( © GGAT)
03/MM Record Sheet/RCAHM//1965//Field work 1965;
02/PM Desc Text//Rees DM/1975/Indust Arch of Wales/p252;
01/MM Record Card/OS//1977/SS 88 SE 28/;
Land)/Chapter 12, Indust Hist;
06/MM Desc Text/CADW/Whittle E/1985/SS 88 SE/AM 7
05/PM Desc Text/Welsh County Series/Evans F//Tir Iarll (The Earls
Maesteg;
04/PM Desc Text//Davies D//Tyr Llwyni/Some Hist Notes on the Town of
07/Pm Desc Text/Cefn Cribwr - Bedford Iron Works/1989 Dec/Veryard & Partners/GGAT SMR Report Archive

Events :
E003685 : Waun Cimla, Cefn Cribwr, (Bedford Ironworks) (year : 1992)
E003357 : Bedford Ironworks, Cefn Cribwr (year : 1992-1994)
E001484 : Bedford Iron Works (year : 1989)
E003662 : Bedford Park Cefn Cribwr (year : 1992)
E001562 : Park Slip West opencast coal site (year : 1989)
E003852 : Bedford Ironworks Cefn Cribwr (year : 1992)

Related records
National Monuments Record NPRN 34072 http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/34072/details
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 01123m
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 01406m
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 02033m
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 04725m
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 04726m
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 04731m
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 04730m

Compiled date : 01-11-1981


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