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Upper Swansea Valley
The Story of Iron 5

by Len Ley

 

 Last days of iron making
Patrick Moir Crane inherited the Ynyscedwyn works on the death of his father, and retained control for a few years. His inexperience and lack of interest soon created financial difficulties and, by 1853, control had returned to the bankers, Marryett and Pryce, one of whom resided at Maesydderwen until some time after 1857.

Ynyscedwyn
Iron Works
in the
19th century

From the
collections of
the late
John Morris

Ynyscedwyn Iron Works 
  Great changes were to come about in the metal industry and in 1856 Bessemer perfected his steelmaking process and this, together with the uneconomic transport of iron ore inland, sounded the death knell for iron production in the Upper Swansea Valley. During these years, Moir Crane and his successor Joseph Marryett contributed little to the affairs of Ynyscedwyn and each delegated business matters to their respective agent.
From the
collections of
the late
John Morris

From 1860 onwards, there were never more than two furnaces in blast at Ystradgynlais. Two years later Joseph Marryett was still a partner at Ynyscedwyn, and in the recent past, the works had been supervised by a number of Furnace managers and mineral agents.

A Mr John Macdonald is recorded as Works Manager in 1868. In the following year the site closed down. It re-opened twelve months later with one furnace. The building of a new works on the site was abandoned in in 1872 leaving the yellow brick arches as a memorial. 

  There are 7 pages on The Story of Iron. Use the box links below to view other pages.