Neath
Abbey and the Industrial Revolution
by
Laurence Ince
Tempus Publishing,
Gloustershire, England, 2001
CONTENTS
Preface 6
Acknowledgements 7
1 Rivers Geology and Estates 8
2 The Copper Industry 12
3 The Eighteenth Century Iron Industry 25
4 The Neath Abbey Iron Company 1800-1890 35
5 The Products of the Neath Abbey Iron Company 46
6 The Quaker Industrialists of Neath Abbey 70
7 The Nineteenth Century Coal Mining Industry 89
8 The Main Colliery Company 100
Appendix 1 Expense of Ironmaking - 1800 144
Appendix 2 List of Stationary Steam Engines Built 146
Appendix 3 List of Ship Engines and Ships Built 165
Appendix 4 List of Locomotives Built 169
Appendix 5 List of Gas Plants Built 172
Appendix 6 List of Patents 174
Bibliography 175
References 180
Index 188
This book contains substantial histories of the industries located in the area surrounding Neath Abbey, Wales. Chapter 5 deals with the Neath Abbey Ironworks where Hopkin Thomas apprenticed in the 1805 time period. Prof. Ince has made extensive use of the records of the Neath Abbey Ironworks as preserved in the West Glamorgan Archive Service in the preparation of this work. Over 8000 plans of products are given in those records. Apparently, it was not the custom in those days for the signature of the designer of the plans to appear on document. That being the case, it will be difficult to trace Hopkin's endeavor's back to his apprenticeship days.
Below is a typical engine plan from those records. Note the absence of the designer's signature. Whether the designer is identified in the notes covering the plans has not been determined.
Return
to the Neath Abbey Ironworks page.
Rev July 2014.