MissEvelynn
Member
- Joined
- May 14, 2017
- Messages
- 15
- Reaction score
- 39
I've been aware of the copperworks site all my life, it was part of the landscape and something we drove past when we went to visit my grandmother. They were just sort of...there. Didn't think much about them at all. Then I found myself in Swansea with some time to kill and took a walk. Imagine my surprise when I found they'd put up a fence around the site because they'd decided it was historically important (I don't deny that it is, I'm just surprised it took them this long)
A little bit of history of the place. It was originally the Hafod Copperworks, established in 1810 and was still working up until 1980, when it became cheaper to buy copper from other countries. I'm still amazed at the fact that by 1883 Swansea had a population of 15,000 people and 10,000 of them worked in copper in some way. The best copper came from Swansea and earned it the nickname 'Copperopolis'
I didn't get to explore as much as I would have liked but I'm quite happy my photos from the trip
Outside the main building
A better look at the stone over the door. I couldn't quite read it (can anyone here? I'd like to know what it says)
Getting into the main building, it's pretty clear I'm not the first person in here.
Still has some of the original features - I wonder what this pipe was connected to?
I don't know where the ladder went or what it was for but it doesn't lead to anywhere now
Don't know what this was but it made a good photo and it was right above the doorway
I think this is where they'd run off the slag
and again
Basement/lower level of the first building. It's hard to see from the photo but it'd rained a few days before so the room had about 2 feet of water in it. I decided it was better not to go in and risk getting caught on something submerged
the second remaining building - it looks imposing from this angle
side-view of the second building from the steps of the first
The second building still has some machinery inside. I didn't have quite enough time on my hands to climb up and properly look around but this is good.
Everybody loves ancient industrial machinery.
a better look a bit further away, take in the full majesty
the next piece of machinery
That's pretty much all the photos I had time to take before I had to hightail it out to make it to the train station on time. I plan on going back if I can and maybe getting into the second building.
A little bit of history of the place. It was originally the Hafod Copperworks, established in 1810 and was still working up until 1980, when it became cheaper to buy copper from other countries. I'm still amazed at the fact that by 1883 Swansea had a population of 15,000 people and 10,000 of them worked in copper in some way. The best copper came from Swansea and earned it the nickname 'Copperopolis'
I didn't get to explore as much as I would have liked but I'm quite happy my photos from the trip
Outside the main building
A better look at the stone over the door. I couldn't quite read it (can anyone here? I'd like to know what it says)
Getting into the main building, it's pretty clear I'm not the first person in here.
Still has some of the original features - I wonder what this pipe was connected to?
I don't know where the ladder went or what it was for but it doesn't lead to anywhere now
Don't know what this was but it made a good photo and it was right above the doorway
I think this is where they'd run off the slag
and again
Basement/lower level of the first building. It's hard to see from the photo but it'd rained a few days before so the room had about 2 feet of water in it. I decided it was better not to go in and risk getting caught on something submerged
the second remaining building - it looks imposing from this angle
side-view of the second building from the steps of the first
The second building still has some machinery inside. I didn't have quite enough time on my hands to climb up and properly look around but this is good.
Everybody loves ancient industrial machinery.
a better look a bit further away, take in the full majesty
the next piece of machinery
That's pretty much all the photos I had time to take before I had to hightail it out to make it to the train station on time. I plan on going back if I can and maybe getting into the second building.
