Between Hafod and Forest, on the western side of Swansea or Tawe river, and at the foot of the sloping ground towards Morriston, within gunshot of each other, will be found "The Landore,' 'The Rose,' and 'The Birmingham' Copper Works, which were certainly all established and in work at the end of the last, and the beginning of the present century. I have, however, been completely baffled in my efforts so far, to discover the exact period of their individual erection. Commencing then with 'THE BIRMINGHAM' COPPER WORKS, Which appear to have been built for a Company calling itself "the Birmingham Mining and Copper Company," and from Halfpenny Tokens which it issued in 1791 and '92, “payable at Birmingham, Redruth and Swansea," it may be inferred that miners and smelters were acting harmoniously togetherthe device on the coins assists the idea, for a placid female is seated on a rock holding a fasces in her hand -types of strength and union: but, as another like token was issued in 1793, without being payable at Swansea,* I fear the presumed amity was not of long standing: the works,† however, were continued till 1831 or thereabouts, when they were closed, and so remained, until purchased by the Williams's and Vivians, which latter firm eventually obtained sole possession and converted them some years ago into Spelter Works for the reduction of zinc ores, to which use they are still devoted by the firm of Vivian & Sons. *The reverse of all these Coins has the field occupied by a Heron or Liver standing on a cornua full of flowers-the heraldic device of Liverpool City. G. G. F. † At the beginning of this century, Timothy Smith and Jno. Dickenson of Birmingham, were chief proprietors of the Birmingham Copper Works. D. ROWLAND. THE 'ROSE' COPPER WORKS* which were in the hands of a Birmingham firm in 1803, (and in 1812 issued a Token for one penny, vide Appendix No. 38) are to us chiefly interesting as being the scene of the first smelting operations of the now important firm of Williams, Foster and Co., which commenced its Manufacturing career at the 'Rose't about the year 1830, first as, Grenfell Williams and Fox, then Grenfell withdrew and Foster came in, and lastly Fox retired and the partners came to be, as just stated, the well-known firm of Williams, Foster and Co., for whom, perhaps, I cannot do better than shew the appreciation of the public, by quoting the final departure of one of their leading Members as given by the Cambrian, of 1st April, 1870:— THE LATE SIR W. WILLIAMS, BART., The funeral of this gentleman took place in March, 1870, and excited great interest among the mining population of Cornwall, who lose in him a long-tried and generous friend. The late Baronet was the last surviving son of Mr. John Williams, who by energy and perseverance had risen from a station little above that of a practical miner to be a large owner both of mines and land throughout the County. The sons inherited all the father's industry, and, starting of course where he left off, realised enormous fortunes, and have taken for many years a very leading part in Cornish affairs. Sir William's brother, Mr. Michael Williams, of Trevince and Caerhayes Castle, was M.P. for West Cornwall from 1853 to his death in 1858, and during that time a principal authority in the House of Commons upon mining affairs. Sir William himself, who was created a Baronet in 1866, was, according to the Western Morning News— High-sheriff of Cornwall in 1851, and at the time of his death was deputy-lieutenant and magistrate for Cornwall, a deputy-warden of the * As we have already shewn at p. 77, these works, so far as a name can shew it, were probably in existence as early as 1795. Unless, indeed, we may take this smelting for the Company, as rather indicating that the ante Works were not then built or ready for use. † Early in the 19th century, Mr. Thos. Bigg (a quaker gentleman) was manager at the Rose Works.-D. ROWLAND. Mr. Keates writes, Williams, Foster and Company commenced smelting in 1823, and not in 1830.' I however got the date 1830, from their agent at Morfa. G. G. F. Stannaries, and chairman of the East Kirrier Highway Board. About seven years since he retired from partnership in the well-known Copper Company of Williams, Foster, and Co. He was the senior partner in the firms of Williams, Harvey, and Co., tin smelters, Truro; Williams's Portreath Co., coal merchants; Williams's Perran Co., timber and guano merchants; and Williams's Perran Foundry Co., founders. He was also a partner in the Cornish Bank at Truro, Redruth, Falmouth, and Penryn ; and in the firm of Williams and Sons, Tregullow Office, Scorrier. As a mining adventurer he was justly celebrated, having large interests in the Tirony and Cloncbanc sulphur mines in Wicklow; Nanthwyn lead mines, Wales; in the mines in the Gwennap district, Cornwall; and holding moreover three-fourths of the Clifford Amalgamated Mines, with the greater portion of Dolcoath. He also held a large portion of the Cook's Kitchen, Carn Brea, South Crofty, and West Basset interests. During the distress in the Copper trade, a few years since, Sir William was one of the greatest friends to the Miners, and sacrificed large sums of money to keep concerns going through any period of temporary depression. His charities were also very large in North Devon, where he owned very considerable landed property. The deceased Baronet is succeeded by his eldest son, now Sir Frederick Martin Williams, who is the Conservative M.P. for Truro (1870). Another son is also in the House of Commons as M.P. for Barnstaple, Devon. In connection with the Rose Works various tokens were issued; in 1811, pence and halfpence in copper were struck and inscribed 'Rose Copper Company, Birmingham and Swansea.' In the following year a penny only was issued, with a rose in the field; while on the obverse side a lion rampant exhibits a shield with the same sweet emblem; but why this device or name was adopted no one seems well able to explain; it certainly did not typify the locale,' but it may have the color of the metal-if it did, it was I think a rather far-fetched idea for any such English metal. THE LANDORE' COPPER WORKS. It is not clear, from Evans, what Company in 1803 were possessed of these premises: from Wood, in 1811, we learn, however, that they were worked by "The British Copper Company," and this is confirmed by three very fine penny *May, 1869. Passing up the Thames, I noticed that a sign over the offices of Messrs. Williams, Foster & Co., was headed, in gilt letters, "British Copper Company." G. G. F. K Copper Tokens dated 1812 and 1813. (See Appendix No. 39.) There is also a half-penny with 1813 in the exergue, a lion of precisely the same type in the field, and on the reverse within an oak-wreath, Britannia seated, all evidently betokening the word 'British' in the title of the Company. About 1825 or 26, these works were in the hands of Mr. Henry Bath, senr., and Mr. R. J. Nevill, with the name of Henry Bath and Co.,' and so continued with the management of Mr. J. Penrose and Mr. Letcher down to 1834. The Works were eventually purchased in 18- by Messrs. Williams, Foster and Co., and still remain in their hands, conveniently situated for their Rolling mills and offices at 'Morfa,' near by. They have all on the obverse the device of a lion passant, in the field; that of the 1812 issue has the face nearly full, while the other two types are three-quarter, and surrounded by the sentence 'Rolling Mills at Walthamstow.' The reverses are all alike enriched with a wreath of oak encircling the words 'British Copper Company,' surrounded by 'Smelting Works at Landore.' The great output of Slag at the several works, which from its semi-metallic lustre and great density had given an idea of riches yet to be won from it, induced much chemical research and the erection of THE 'NANT RYD Y VILAIS' WORKS, at Landore, on the brook of its name, to the north of the Tin-plate Works of the late G. B. Morris and Co. They were air furnaces of an exceptional character, neither for Copper nor Iron, and yet for both. They were established by the Bevans, of Morriston, about 1814, in the hope of extracting some copper from the slags which it was supposed had not been smelted with sufficient care, and for getting out the iron which was known to form a proportion of at least 50 per cent. of the slag itself. The result was a scientific success, but though a little copper was reclaimed, and bar iron was rolled out at the mills, it was found impossible to "weld" it, and so, the article being unmarketable, the proprietors came to grief, the works were closed, and the question 'How to extract a marketable Iron from the millions of tons of ore in the form of slag in the Swansea District' has yet to be accomplished! Does NATURE really not afford a material which when scientifically compounded, shall expel the obnoxious, and produce the requisite facile of chemical coincidence to a useful and practical result? This Company of Nantrydyvilais issued a penny Copper Token in 1813, No. 42 in Appendix, and so its name will be perpetuated as having existed at that date, and as having been ready to exchange its local coin either in "Morriston or Swansea," where the chief partners resided. I have been lately informed that in 1816 this firm were founders of brass and iron, and were also makers of the edge tools and shovels, at that time largely sold in the District. The Rev. J. Evans, in his "Tours in South Wales," written 1803, and published the following year, says at p. 165: "There are eight large Copper Houses in the vicinity of Swansea, the Ist-The Brass Wire Works of Harford and Co. 2nd-Those belonging to the Birmingham Mining Co. 3rd-To the Birmingham Rose Co. 4th-To Mr. R. Morris of Clasemont. 5th-To Williams and Hughes. 6th-To Freeman and Co. 7th-To Mr. Williams, and the 8th-To Roe and Co." I do not see my way exactly to the proper appropriation of these eight establishments. The 1st were at Forest,' for Wood says so, and as may be seen a little further on; the 2nd *See page 78, ante, for the Smelters in 1798. K 2 |