Archeologists uncovered former ironworks in Ystalyfera while preparing the site for a proposed store for a supermarket chain. The remains, which have been uncovered for the first time in almost a century, reveal what is thought to have once been the biggest ironworks in the world, and it was the reason why the village flourished. First built in the 1830s, the ironworks once employed approximately 4,000 people and closed in the 1880s. It was then developed into tin works, and latterly became a spoil tip for the Ystalyfera colliery.
A video link to a BBC news report:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-13001885
As far as I am aware 90% of this will be under a supermarket by Christmas.
From the front of the site.
From the side of the site again, you can see the base walls of the blast furnaces.
View of the back wall, you can see there is still part of an arch coming out from the back wall.
Over view of part of the site.
From above, you can see some of the channels, the hole place was a maze of channels.
From above again.
Just a few odd pictures of the place.
And there you have it, thanks for looking.
A video link to a BBC news report:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-13001885
As far as I am aware 90% of this will be under a supermarket by Christmas.
From the front of the site.
From the side of the site again, you can see the base walls of the blast furnaces.
View of the back wall, you can see there is still part of an arch coming out from the back wall.
Over view of part of the site.
From above, you can see some of the channels, the hole place was a maze of channels.
From above again.
Just a few odd pictures of the place.
And there you have it, thanks for looking.
