The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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British Ironworks Office and Foundry Quadrangle (Former)

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 04596g
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Abersychan
Unitary authority : Torfaen
NGR : SO25720362
Site Type (preferred type first) : POST MEDIEVAL Iron works
Status : listed building II*, registered parks and gardens II*

Summary :
The British Ironworks operated from 1827 to 1883 and was constructed during the period in which S Wales was the leading iron producing region in the world. Surviving remains include the very rare office and foundry forming a quadrangle.

Description :
The British Ironworks operated from 1827 to 1883 and was constructed during the period in which S Wales was the leading iron producing region in the world. The works closed in 1883 and most of its buildings were demolished shortly afterwards. Unusually, the main ironworks buildings were designed with high architectural pretentions and on a monumental scale.
The buildings form a closed quadrangle and are constructed of coursed sandstone with a slate roof (partially missing or replaced with corrugated iron) The whole quadrangle is single-storey apart from the NE pavilion which has 2 storeys and is rendered.
Surviving workshop and foundry complexes at ironworks are now extremely rare, and this is believed to the most complete surviving in Wales. Other surviving features include an air furnace and coke ovens (Roberts 2005).

Sources :
, 1992 , British Iron Works, Abersychan, Gwent: An Archaeological Report.
Hawkes J , 1993 , Archaeological Assessment of The British Reclaimation Scheme,Near Abersychan, Gwent.
Riden P , 1994 , Historical, Topographical and Archaeological Assessment of the Implications of The British Reclaimation Scheme, Abersychan, Gwent.
Roberts, R. , 2017 , GGAT 148: The British (Abersychan) Ironworks, Talywain, Torfaen: Survey
The Handley Partnership , HAAbase built heritage assessment system: Buildings at Risk database
03/MM Desc Text/Riden Philip/1994/Assessment of implications of the British Reclamation Scheme
04/MM Desc Text/Ironbridge and RCAHM/British Ironworks: an archaeological report
02/MM Desc Text/Colebrook Kim/1983/Gwent Local History 54/History of the British Ironworks pp6-29
01/PM List/Cadw/1994/Listed Building List

Events :
E003947 : The British Reclaimation Scheme, Near Abersychan, Gwent (year : 1993)
E003946 : British Iron Works, Abersychan, Gwent (year : 1992)
E003948 : The British Reclaimation Scheme, Abersychan, Gwent. (year : 1994)
E002182 : 'The British', Pontypool (year : 1997)
E002356 : Abersychan Regeneration (year : 1996)
E008475 : Former British Ironworks, Talywain, Aberyschan, Torfaen (year : 2022)

Related records
National Monuments Record NPRN 85067 http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/85067/details
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 04597g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 04698g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 04699g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 02515g

Compiled date : 29-03-1995


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