Hafod Copperworks

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The remains of the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks, originally developed by Vivian & Sons, consists of a core Grade II listed building and additional Grade II listed structures on a 12 acres (4.9 ha) site, on the banks of the River Tawe in Hafod, Swansea.

History

The Hafod works was founded in 1810 by the Cornishman John Vivian. During the 19th century, this was the largest copper works in the world, employing over 1,000 people. The rival Morfa works was established in 1835 by Williams, Foster & Co., and the two adjacent sites combined in 1924 under Yorkshire Imperial Metals.

Swansea was core to the global copper industry, and by 1823 10,000 of Swansea’s 15,000 residents were supported by the copper industry. By 1883 there were 124 works including 12 copper works in the Lower Swansea Valley. But as raw geological resources had waned in South Wales, it became more economic to produce copper elsewhere. In 1971 the Lower Swansea Valley Project had started to transform the most derelict industrial landscape in Britain, resulting in the closure of the rolling mills in 1980.^[1]^[2]

The former rolling mills were converted into the Landore Collection Centre, part of Swansea Museum.^[3]

Reclamation and regeneration

In 2010, the local authority discussed plans to have the site re-developed where the listed buildings would be preserved and new uses would be given to heritage buildings. The 2010 development plan included a new hotel, restaurant and new housing.^[4]

In 2011, the local council named Swansea University as a development partner of the site, who are evaluating the possibility of developing academic facilities at the site. Public grants of £540,000 were awarded for the preservation and renewal of the site.^[5] Stage1 commenced in October 2013, clearing overgrown vegitation and undertaking essential preservation works.^[6]

References

External links

v t e Economy of Swansea

Main commercial employers (excluding national retailers)	3M UK plc Admiral Insurance Alberto-Culver Bemis BT Group Conduit Electronic Data Systems HSBC International Rectifier Timet Vale Inco Virgin Media

Main public sector employers	Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University NHS Trust City and County of Swansea council Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency HM Land Registry Swansea Metropolitan University Swansea University

Companies with a local headquarters	CGram Software Ltd First Cymru Hurns Brewing Company South West Wales Publications Swansea Building Society

Retail	Retail parks (Morfa Fforestfach Parc Tawe Pontarddulais Road Enterprise Park) Shopping centres (Quadrant St. David's City centre Market)

Regeneration and development	Liberty Stadium SA1 Waterfront Swansea Vale The Tower, Meridian Quay Wales National Pool

Tourism	Dylan Thomas Centre Glynn Vivian Art Gallery LC, Swansea Mumbles Pier National Waterfront Museum Plantasia Swansea Beach Swansea Marina Swansea Museum

Industrial history	Cambrian Pottery Hafod Copperworks Lower Swansea Valley South Wales Coalfield Steel Company of Wales Swansea Canal Swansea docks Swansea and Mumbles Railway Swansea and Neath Railway Swansea Vale Railway Tennant Canal Vivian & Sons

Coordinates: 51°38′15″N 3°56′07″W / 51.6376°N 3.9353°W / 51.6376; -3.9353

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