The Listed Buildings At Site.
LISTED BUILDING INFO
Museum Stores, formerly Morfa Copperworks rolling mill
II
16878
47/44/46
29/02/96
Located at the north side of the Hafod and Morfa copperworks site, off the cross-valley road between Foxhole Road and Neath Road.
A former rolling mill building for Morfa Copperworks, converted to use as a museum store and workshops in the 1980s. Morfa Copperworks was established in 1828 by Williams, Foster and Company of Cornwall, when Swansea was the world centre of the copper trade. The works was initially a rolling plant for making bars and plates from copper ingots brought from the nearby Rose Works, but smelting is believed to have been started at Morfa in 1835. Rolling was carried out initially in smaller steam-powered mills at both ends of the present range. These appear to have been linked to create the much larger mill building in the 1830s. The works amalgamated with the adjacent Hafod Copperworks in 1924 and was subsequently operated by Yorkshire Imperial Metals until it closed in 1980.
Listed for its extreme rarity as a surviving copper rolling mill building and for group value with the scheduled Morfa Quay and listed buildings of the Hafod and Morfa copperworks.
The interior is open to the roof for its full length, with concrete floors and industrial shelving for storage of museum objects.
A long, single-storey building with a gabled roof and corrugated roof covering, topped by tall ventilators. It is constructed primarily of rubble sandstone with some brick infilling. The main elevation, to the east, has stone walls at either end, the remains of the mill buildings of 1828. The southern part contains a series of infilled semi-circular arches typical of such buildings in the period. The majority of the east elevation was formerly open, and massive timber purlins are supported on impressive tapering cast iron columns. The spaces between the columns were later infilled with brick. The north elevation has a wide arch and circular ventilation openings above, now blocked. The south elevation is rubble stone, pierced by a row of five round-headed windows (two blocked), and a further row of three smaller blocked windows above.
CANTEEN BUILDING AT THE FORMER YORKSHIRE IMPERIAL METAL WORKS,NEATH ROAD
II
11691
84/A/144(3)
03/01/80
Set away from main road and reached under railway, entrance to works was formerly across Swansea Canal.
Derelict at time of inspection (Spring 1986)
Group value.
Late C19. Former power house building to Morfa Copper Works. Rubble walls with quoins and freestone dressings. Wide slate roof with gambrel treatment to E end, continues down over side aisles, long glazed roof-lights. Remains of clock tower with trapezoidal base (formerly louvered with clock faces, weathervane etc.). Two stone chimney stacks with cornice to right, vents along ridge. E gable end has tall rounded-head window with glazing-bars over segmentally-headed doorway (blocked); this centre bay flanged by segmental windows with glazing bars above wide modern windows (blocked). Front walls of side aisles canted back, each with (blocked)segmental openings on ground floor.
Fine aisled interior of 4 bays with composite timber and iron trusses (basically queen post construction), circular cast-iron spandrels between collar and ironwork. Gothic braces supported by slender, reeded cast-iron columns with capitals. Tension braces and ties of wrought-iron and compression members of cast-iron.
LABORATORY
II
11690
84/A/143(3)
30/03/87
Set away from main road and reached under railway, entrance to works was formerly across Swansea Canal.
Derelict at time of inspection (Spring 1986)
Group value
Mid to late C19, earlier origins. Tall 2 storey block along boundary wall with lower 1 storey and basement stepped ranges attached to inner side. Snecked rubble freestone dressings and rusticated quoins, hipped slate roof (mostly stripped). Moulded cornice and frieze band. Segmental arched heads to lugged window architraves, cill band with moulded brackets (openings blocked), plainer basement. S side of random rubble construction with brick patching. Fine stone doorcase in return facing entrance, ball finial to pediment containing cartouche, swagged capitals to panelled pilasters, arched keyblock doorcase.
Copper slag abutment to former waste tip tramroad
II
11692
48/46/54
18/10/79
Located on the west side of the former Swansea Canal near the centre of the former Hafod and Morfa copperworks site.
Hafod Copperworks was established in 1810 by John Vivian and continued to be owned by the Vivian family until 1924 when it amalgamated with the adjacent Morfa Coppperworks. It was subsequently operated by Yorkshire Imperial Metals until it closed in 1980. The abutment supported a works tramroad for carrying slag high above the Swansea Canal and served as a massive revetment wall above the canal holding back the slag tip to the west. It was built in the mid nineteenth century using copper slag blocks produced at the Hafod works, and is an exceptionally fine demonstration of the use of a material once common in the Swansea and Bristol areas.
Listed as probably the most impressive surviving example of copper slag block construction in Wales and for group value with the listed buildings of the former Hafod and Morfa copperworks.
A very tall copper slag wall with a steeply battered profile and a ramped projecting bridge abutment, creating a complex geometry. The slag blocks are closely bedded and are 22cm deep, in two lengths, of 43cm and 20cm. Putlog holes for support of the bridge deck can be seen on the abutment.
Pier to former waste tip tramroad and adjoining boundary wall
II
11693
48/46/53
18/10/79
Located on the east side of the former Swansea Canal at the centre of the former Hafod and Morfa copperworks site.
Hafod Copperworks was established in 1810 by John Vivian and continued to be owned by the Vivian family until 1924 when it amalgamated with the adjacent Morfa Coppperworks. It was subsequently operated by Yorkshire Imperial Metals until it closed in 1980. The pier supported a works tramroad high above the Swansea Canal. The tramroad carried slag away from the copperworks to a tip to the west. It was built into the boundary wall of the canal at this point in the mid nineteenth century. The canal was built 1794-8 and was a principal transport artery for the works. A series of docks were built into the works from the canal for unloading boats. The wall was probably built soon after the works was established, and had an archway for boats at this point.
Listed for group value with the listed buildings of the former Hafod and Morfa copperworks.
The pier is tall and slightly tapering, constructed of coursed rubble sandstone with copper slag block quoins. There are putlog holes for the bridge deck supports on front and rear. The boundary wall extends in both directions, for some 60m in all, and is constructed of rubble stone and copper slag. To the north it extends as far as the boundary of the Hafod and Morfa sites, at the corner of the Morfa laboratory building. Between this point and the pier is a wide arch of yellow brick, forming the entrance to one of the former canal docks.
Boundary wall of former Hafod Copperworks canal docks
II
16881
47/44/49
29/02/96
Located on the east bank of the former Swansea Canal, east of the car park of Landore Social Club.
Hafod Copperworks was established in 1810 by John Vivian and continued to be owned by the Vivian family until 1924 when it amalgamated with the adjacent Morfa Copperworks. It was operated by Yorkshire Imperial Metals until it closed in 1980. The Swansea Canal, built 1794-8, was a principal transport artery for the works, through which coal was brought for the furnaces. A series of docks were built into the works from the canal for the unloading of boats. The boundary wall was probably built along the canal towpath soon after the works was established, with large openings for the passage of boats. Low timber bridges formerly carried the towpath across the dock entrances.
Listed as a good example of slag wall, for its relation to former canal docks, and for group value with the listed buildings of the Hafod and Morfa works.
A high wall of copper slag, sandstone and brick, some 80m in length. The adjacent canal has been filled in. The lower parts of the wall are almost entirely of copper slag, either in carefully bedded rough nodules or in moulded blocks. A row of square slag copings seem to have been placed on top of this, but the wall was subsequently raised in stone and slag and topped with crenellations of oblong slag blocks interspersed with spade-shaped slag copings laid sideways. The wall was again raised in brick and stone, probably in the late nineteenth century. Two wide blocked archways can be seen supporting the wall where the canal dock entrances passed through.
HAFOD LIMEKILN, NEATH ROAD
II
11694
84/A/147(3)
18/10/79
Set away from the main road and reached under the railway line. Formerly on W side of Swansea Canal (now filled in) begun 1794, fully opened 1798.
In derelict condition at time of inspection (Spring 1986).
Group value.
Late C18 to early C19. Tapering stone rubble wall 5.8 metres square. Discharge opening with segmental brick arch to E side, facing canal; further possible opening in S wall and vertical, full-height chase in N wall (to bond in with lateral retaining wall). Copper slag charging bank formerly against W and part of N elevations. One of only 3 lime-kilns remaining along the Swansea Canal in 1978.
Vivian engine house
II
11695
48/46/51
30/03/87
Located near the west bank of the River Tawe in the southern part of the former Hafod and Morfa copperworks site.
Hafod Copperworks was established in 1810 by John Vivian and continued to be owned by the Vivian family until 1924 when it amalgamated with the adjacent Morfa Coppperworks. It was subsequently operated by Yorkshire Imperial Metals until it closed in 1980. The Vivian engine house was built 1860-2 and housed a steam engine to power adjacent copper rolling mills, though it is possible that part of the building is early nineteenth-century. It was later enlarged substantially, probably c.1900.
Listed for its rarity as a copper works engine house and for group value with the listed buildings of the former Hafod and Morfa copperworks.
There is a main floor, open to the metal roof trusses, and a service basement below. The upper floor has a cill for a travelling crane.
A two-storey gabled structure, formerly with a slate roof. It is constructed partially in dressed sandstone, partially in snecked rubble, and partially in grey bricks (made at the copperworks). The oldest part of the building appears to be in the south corner, where there is much dressed stone. The building has been widened to the north and raised in height using grey brick; the raised band being given red brick oculi and eaves cornice. The west gable has a large doorway, over which is an ornate carved stone tablet with scrolls and flowers, reading 'Commenced August 1860; completed February 1862; V & S'. The north side has a chamfered corner and four segmentally arched windows to the main floor, with wooden frames. The east end has a tall opening for the former rope drive from the engine, and an oculus high in the gable. The south side has openings irregularly placed on three levels.
Chimney west of Vivian engine house
II
11696
48/46/52
30/03/87
Located on the slope to the west of the Vivian engine house and east of the former Swansea Canal.
Hafod Copperworks was established in 1810 by John Vivian and continued to be owned by the Vivian family until 1924 when it amalgamated with the adjacent Morfa Coppperworks. It was subsequently operated by Yorkshire Imperial Metals until it closed in 1980. The chimney dates from the late nineteenth century and probably served the steam boilers for the Vivian engine house, built 1860-2.
Listed as an impressive Victorian industrial chimney and for group value with the listed buildings of the former Hafod and Morfa copperworks.
A tall, tapering chimney stack, constructed of red brick. There is an octagonal plinth with a corbelled head and a circular shaft. The shaft has numerous iron bands, and a corbelled ring at its neck.
Musgrave engine house and chimney
II*
11697
48/46/50
03/01/80
Located close to the River Tawe in the southern part of the former Hafod and Morfa copperworks site.
Hafod Copperworks was established in 1810 by John Vivian and continued to be owned by the Vivian family until 1924 when it amalgamated with the adjacent Morfa Coppperworks. It was subsequently operated by Yorkshire Imperial Metals until it closed in 1980. The Musgrave engine house was built in 1910 for a uniflow steam engine which powered adjacent copper rolling mills.
Listed at II* for its importance as a rare engine house with in situ steam engine and for group value with the listed buildings of the former Hafod and Morfa copperworks.
Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The building is lined with red brick on the interior, and has a main floor containing the engine, with a service basement below. The engine is one of the first uniflow type steam engines made in Britain, manufactured by John Musgrave and Sons of Bolton in
A two storey building with a hipped roof, a brick passage for the rope drive and a tall brick chimney at its south-west corner. It is constructed of grey brick (made at the copperworks) with red brick bands to the cills, lintols and eaves cornice. The timber roof was slated. There are four tall windows to the main storey on each long elevation, square headed with timber window frames. The west wall has a large doorway with remains of an external staircase. The east end features the open passage to the rope drive and a high-level doorway. The rope drive passes out of the building to a set of gears and intact rolling mills. The chimney is of square section, slightly tapering, in brown brick with iron banding towards the top.
Former Hafod Copperworks river quay
II
16879
47/44/47
29/02/96
Located at the north side of the Hafod and Morfa copperworks site, off the cross-valley road between Foxhole Road and Neath Road.
Hafod Copperworks was established in 1810 by John Vivian and continued to be owned by the Vivian family until 1924 when it amalgamated with the adjacent Morfa Copperworks. It was subsequently operated by Yorkshire Imperial Metals until it closed in 1980. The river quay appears to have been built in 1810 for the unloading of large quantities of copper ore brought up the Tawe by coasting vessels and for the export of copper products.
Listed as an early industrial river quay and for group value with the listed buildings of the Hafod and Morfa copperworks.
A tall quay of dressed sandstone with flat stone copings. The quay is straight for most of its length, from its junction with a recent concrete river wall at the north to a right-angled return near its southern end. The return was designed to allow vessels to draw back from the river current. There is a smaller return before a raised stop at the southern end of the quay.
Former Vivian locomotive shed
II
16880
47/44/48
29/02/96
Located on the west bank of the river Tawe, opposite the White Rock Industrial Archaeology Park.
Hafod Copperworks was established in 1810 by John Vivian and continued to be owned by the Vivian family until 1924 when it amalgamated with the adjacent Morfa Copperworks. It was subsequently operated by Yorkshire Imperial Metals until it closed in 1980. The Vivian locomotive shed was built c1910 for the first standard gauge Garrett locomotive in Britain. The locomotive was used to transfer materials around the whole Hafod works site. The shed was built to a high specification to store and maintain the locomotive, with a saw-tooth roof, despite its narrow form, to maximise north light and ventilation of steam, and was proudly titled in glazed brickwork.
Listed as a rare locomotive shed and for group value with the listed buildings of the Hafod and Morfa copperworks.
The interior is open for its full length and wide enough for one railway track. There are remains of timber dividers placed laterally in the roof gables to carry steam from the locomotives to the central parts of the roof for ventilating. A service pit ru
A narrow, single-storey building, one bay deep and nine bays long. The shed is constructed of red and grey brick, with a metal truss roof. There are nine saw tooth gables providing north-facing rooflights with ventilators at their centres. Each gable has a circular ventilation window with red brick dressings. The bays are divided into panels of grey bricks (made at the copperworks), with a plinth, piers, corbelled string course and gable cornices of red brick. White glazed bricks in seven panels pick out letters more than a metre high to refer to the function of the building as Vivian and Son engine shed: 'V & S Ltd No1 SHED'. There are wide square openings at either end, formerly with wooden doors, for access by locomotives.
Great to see some of the original equipment still in place too.
