Bersham Ironworks facts for kids
Bersham Ironworks was a very important factory in Bersham, near Wrexham, Wales. It was famous because a clever inventor named John Wilkinson worked there. It was also the first place in the world to use a new way of drilling perfect holes in cannons and parts for steam engines.
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History of Bersham Ironworks
Iron making started at Bersham around 1640. Some people believe that cannons for the king's army were made here during the English Civil War.
The Wilkinson Family and Cannons
In the 1700s, Isaac Wilkinson bought the ironworks. He made cannons, but it was hard to make them perfectly. Sometimes, cannonballs would get stuck, which could be dangerous.
Later, Isaac's son, John Wilkinson, took over. He invented a special machine. This machine could drill a very smooth and accurate hole inside a cannon. Cannons made with this new method became very popular. They were even used in big wars like the American War of Independence and the Napoleonic wars.
Steam Engines and New Beginnings
John Wilkinson's amazing machine could also make perfect cylinders for Boulton & Watt steam engines. He even worked with James Watt, who invented the steam engine. However, their partnership ended because Wilkinson was also making his own steam engines.
When the wars ended, fewer cannons were needed. Bersham Ironworks did not have enough space to grow. So, John Wilkinson decided to move. He bought land nearby in Brymbo and built a new factory there. This later became Brymbo Steelworks.
The End of Bersham Ironworks
John Wilkinson had a disagreement with his brother, William. William gathered a group of people to destroy Bersham Ironworks. When John heard about this, he also brought a group and helped with the destruction! He was happy to get rid of the factory because it was losing money.
Only three buildings survived the destruction. These were the main mill building, the building that held the special drilling machine, and a lime kiln. After this, a family leased the site and opened a paper mill. But this did not last long. The site was left empty and started to fall apart. Today, the "Mill building" is still there and has a water wheel.
Discoveries at Bersham
Between 1987 and 1991, archaeologists dug up the Bersham site. They found the foundations of the old buildings. They also found the lime kiln, which still had lime on its walls. Another discovery was a blast furnace, where they found pig iron (a type of iron). These finds made people wonder exactly what each building was used for.
The Wooden Railway
One very exciting find during the digging was a wooden railway! This was the first time such an old wooden waggonway had ever been found. It led from a place called Minera Limeworks to the ironworks. It was probably used to bring lime, which is needed to make iron. A piece of this ancient wooden track is now kept in the museum at the mill building.
Saving Bersham's History
People realized how important Bersham Ironworks was to history. So, Wrexham Council decided to preserve the site as the Bersham Heritage Centre.
The Bersham Heritage Centre
The old Bersham School was reopened as a large museum. It tells the story of local history and Bersham Ironworks. Inside, you can see a part of John Wilkinson's famous smooth bore cutting machine. The original Mill building was also restored. It is now a second museum. Here, you can see items found during the excavations, like the wooden waggonway. There are guided tours to explain everything.
Most recently, the building where the cannon holes were made got a new roof. It also has scaffolding inside to make it stronger. The Welsh Government plans to give more money to help preserve the site even more.
