Hafod Copperworks facts for kids
The Hafod-Morfa Copperworks was once a very important factory where copper was made. It is located on the banks of the River Tawe in Hafod, Swansea. Today, what is left of the old factory covers about 12 acres. Many of its buildings are special because they are "listed buildings." This means they are protected by law because they are historically important.
A Look Back: The Copperworks Story
The Hafod factory started in 1810. It was founded by a man from Cornwall named John Vivian. During the 1800s, this factory grew to be the biggest copper factory in the world! It employed more than 1,000 people.
Another factory, called Morfa, opened nearby in 1835. Later, in 1924, these two factories joined together. They became part of a company called Yorkshire Imperial Metals.
Swansea was a very important place for making copper around the world. By 1823, about 10,000 out of 15,000 people living in Swansea depended on the copper industry for their jobs. By 1883, there were 12 copper factories in the Lower Swansea Valley.
However, over time, it became harder to find copper ore in South Wales. It also became cheaper to make copper in other countries. Because of this, the factories in Swansea slowly closed down. The rolling mills, which were part of the copperworks, closed in 1980.
After the factories closed, the area was very run down. A project started in 1971 to clean up and improve the land. The old rolling mills were later turned into a part of the Swansea Museum. It is now called the Landore Collection Centre.
Giving the Copperworks New Life
In 2010, local leaders started talking about plans to bring the old copperworks site back to life. They wanted to save the historic buildings. They also planned to give them new uses. The ideas included building a new hotel, a restaurant, and some new homes.
In 2011, Swansea University joined the project. They are looking into using parts of the site for university buildings. Money was given to help save and fix up the site. In 2013, the first step began. Workers cleared away overgrown plants and started important repair work.
More plans were approved in 2019 for the Morfa side of the site. A company called Penderyn plans to build a distillery there. This will be a place where they make whisky. It will also have a visitors' centre. Construction was set to begin in late 2019, with the centre opening in 2022. This project received a large grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Other parts of the copperworks are also being worked on. The Musgrave Engine House and Vivian Engine House have been made safe. There are hopes to restore them even more. The Morfa Bascule Bridge, which used to serve the site, is also planned to be fixed so it can work again.
