The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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White Rock Works, Great Workhouse

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 08420w
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : St Thomas
Unitary authority : Swansea
NGR : SS6634294705
Site Type (preferred type first) : POST MEDIEVAL METAL SMELTING SITE

Summary :
An altered sandstone furnace hall built 1736 with a red brick floor, known as The Great Workhouse and part of White Rock Copper Works. Limited excavation has revealed remaining traces of floor surfaces, walls and furnaces from a phase of lead production.

Description :
A post medieval sandstone furnace hall building, 104m x 12m, with a red brick floor, known as The Great Workhouse and part of White Rock Copper Works (00829w). According to documentary evidence, built in 1736 as one of the largest industrial buildings in the country.

The western face of the eastern wall survives with a channel/covered canal outside of it, linked to a chimney leading to a calcining furnace related to lead production. The standing eastern wall is earlier than the working floor surface and signs of an earlier phase of furnaces below the working floor was found during excavation. The eastern wall also had at least three redbrick and firebrick arches supporting a sulphur-stained north-south flue. Covered canals ran along the east and north walls. There were two melting furnaces north of the calcining furnace with traces of lead working. A blocked entrance in the north-west corner was found and presumed to relate to an earlier building phase (Harrison 2014)

Sources :
Harrison, C. , 2014 , White Rock and Hafod Works, Swansea: Archaeological Evaluation and Assessment of Results

Events :
E005913 : White Rock and Hafod Works, Swansea (year : 2014)

Related records
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 00829w

Compiled date : 02-01-2018


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