Bersham Ironworks facts for kids
Bersham Ironworks was a very important factory in Bersham, a village near Wrexham, Wales. It was a place where metal was made and shaped. This factory was special because it was where John Wilkinson first used a brand new way to drill perfect holes. This new method was used for making cannons and parts for steam engines. It was a big step forward for industry around the world!
Contents
The Story of Bersham Ironworks
Early Days of the Ironworks
We don't know exactly when the first furnace, a huge oven for melting metal, was built at Bersham. But we do know the area was perfect for an ironworks. It had everything needed nearby: wood for charcoal, iron ore, limestone, and water power to run the machines. The only problem was that there wasn't a river nearby for easy transport. So, everything had to be moved by land.
Some old reports suggest there was an iron furnace here as early as the 1600s. One newspaper article from 1934 mentioned a charcoal burner's wife dying near the "ffurnesse" in 1699. Another article from 1974 said Sir Richard Lloyd started the furnace in 1670. At first, it was called Pentre Works, but as it grew, it became known as Bersham Ironworks.
In 1717, a man named Charles Lloyd rebuilt the furnace. By 1721, they started using coke instead of charcoal as fuel. This was a big deal! Abraham Darby had figured out how to use coke in 1709 at his factory in Coalbrookdale. Using coke was cheaper and helped make more iron. Lloyd's business had problems in 1729, and the ironworks was taken over by John Hawkins. He was married to Abraham Darby's daughter, showing how these early iron-making families were connected.
Isaac Wilkinson's Time
In 1753, Isaac Wilkinson and his son, John Wilkinson, took over the ironworks. Isaac was a very creative inventor. He got patents for new ways to make metal rollers and even for a better way to cast cannons.
When the Seven Years' War started in 1756, there was a huge need for cannons. Back then, cannons were cast with a hole in the middle, but this hole wasn't always straight or the right size. This could be dangerous, as cannonballs could get stuck! Isaac tried to improve this, but he ran into money problems by 1761.
John Wilkinson's Innovations
Isaac's son, John Wilkinson, took charge of Bersham Ironworks in 1762 with his brother, William. John was a brilliant inventor. In 1774, he came up with an amazing new method to make cannons. Instead of casting them with a hole, he cast them solid. Then, he used a special machine to drill a perfectly smooth and straight hole. This was a huge improvement!
His cannons were so good that the government took away his patent in 1779. They wanted everyone to be able to use his method for the country's benefit. Cannons made with Wilkinson's technique were used in important wars like the American War of Independence and the Napoleonic wars.
John Wilkinson also solved a big problem for James Watt, who was inventing the modern steam engine. Watt needed very precise cylinders for his engines, but no one could make them accurately enough. In 1774, John Wilkinson showed how his boring machine could make these large cylinders perfectly round and smooth. This breakthrough allowed Watt's steam engines to be built and used widely, changing factories and industries forever!
John Wilkinson became very successful. He made a lot of money from cannons and steam engine parts. He invested in other ironworks and businesses. Bersham remained a key factory. In 1795, a writer named John Aiken described Bersham Ironworks. He mentioned that it had furnaces for melting iron, machines for boring cannons, and even a brass foundry.
However, John also faced challenges. His relationship with his brother William got worse. John bought land to build a new ironworks at Brymbo, which William was not part of. This led to a big disagreement. William even told Boulton & Watt (James Watt's company) that John was secretly selling his own steam engines. Because of these problems, Bersham Ironworks was put up for sale in 1795.
After the Wilkinsons
Bersham Ironworks continued to operate in the 1800s, but its busiest days were over. In 1802, it made news for casting a giant copper table weighing 20 tons! This table was used to make large sheets of plate glass.
The works were put up for sale again in 1813. The advertisement listed many parts of the factory, including foundries, furnaces, and machines for making cannons and lead pipes. It also mentioned the water power and land. It's interesting that the sale details didn't mention a steam engine, even though Bersham was so important for steam engine development. This suggests the factory still relied mostly on water power.
After 1813, the site was used less for iron making. Some parts were leased out. For example, the waterwheel and some buildings were used as a paper mill from 1818 until 1866. The paper mill was eventually torn down in 1869, and a school was built on the site in 1876. Over time, much of the old ironworks fell into ruin.
Discovering Bersham's Secrets
Excavations and Finds
Between 1987 and 1991, archaeologists dug up the Bersham Ironworks site. They found the foundations of the old buildings, including the engine house. They also found a lime kiln and even some pig iron around a blast furnace. These discoveries helped experts understand exactly what each part of the ironworks was used for.
One exciting find was part of a wooden railway! These "wooden waggonways" were like early train tracks. They were used to move coal and iron ore around the site. The archaeologists found 40 meters of track, including oak sleepers (the wooden pieces under the rails) and rails made of ash wood. They even found a set of points, which allowed wagons to switch tracks. A piece of this carbonized track is now kept at the museum inside the old mill building.
These waggonways weren't just inside the works. Old contracts show that Isaac Wilkinson planned to build railroads to bring coal and iron ore from nearby mines to Bersham. Even though he had financial troubles, it seems some of these railroads were built and used by John Wilkinson later on.
There's a story that when John and William Wilkinson had their big fight, William sent people to destroy the ironworks. Then John supposedly sent his own people to continue the destruction! It's not clear why William would damage a place he partly owned. The damage couldn't have been too bad, as the works continued for many years. Perhaps it was a way to end their business partnership quickly.
Saving Bersham for the Future
Restoration and Preservation Efforts
Because Bersham Ironworks is so important to history, Wrexham Council decided to protect the site. It is now known as the Bersham Heritage Centre.
The old Bersham School building was turned into a museum. It tells the story of local history and the ironworks. Inside, you can see a special cutting tool from the machine that made the cannons smooth. The old Mill building was also restored and is now a second museum. It displays artifacts found during the excavations, like the wooden waggonway.
More recently, the building where the cannons were cast and bored has been given a new roof and supports to keep it strong. The Welsh Government is planning to provide more funding to help preserve this amazing historical site.
