Researching the Welsh metal industry

Interested in iron, steel, tinplate, non-ferrous smelting or metal mining history?

The vast majority of enquiries that we receive fall into three main categories:

1. Requests for information about the history of individual iron, steel, tinplate and non-ferrous smelting works, and copper, iron, lead, zinc, silver and gold mines, and the companies that owned them.
2. Requests for information on plant and processes, such as blast furnaces, puddling of wrought iron, Bessemer converters, processing of lead ore.
3. Requests for information on the employment records of ancestors.

Whilst the larger ironworks, steel works and metal mines and companies have had histories published, there is no single source where the history of most of the smaller ironworks, steelworks and metal mines and companies, or most of the tinplate and non-ferrous smelting works and companies can be studied. Information on these smaller works, mines and companies is scattered through general histories of the industries, local histories, and archival sources. We can advise on what sources exist and where they are located.

Many books have been published in the last 150 years which describe metalliferous plant and processes, ranging from highly technical to very accessible. We can advise which would best answer your needs.

Our photographic collection contains images of many Welsh metalliferous works and processes, and also a good selection of metal mines. Large works and mines are better covered than smaller works and mines, and the collection is much richer in images of the iron, steel and tinplate industries than the non-ferrous smelting industries.    

Our library holds a good selection of books on nineteenth and twentieth century British metalliferous history, with particular emphasis on the metalliferous heritage of Wales.

Researching metalliferous ancestors is not as straightforward! The museum does not possess any employment records – what few survive from before the Second World War are held in other repositories, which are listed below. Post Second World War employment records are held by surviving companies and because of their confidential nature are not available to family historians.

If you wish to consult any of the above, please contact Jennifer Protheroe-Jones on (029) 2057 3630, Jennifer.protheroejones@museumwales.ac.uk

Here are some of the most important repositories for metalliferous researchers:

1) Welsh county record offices and other registered archives

Welsh county record offices and other registered archives are the best starting point as they house most surviving works, company and employment records. Works, and particularly mine histories, can also be traced through the records of the estates upon which they lay; these are mainly held by county record offices. They also house copies of the census returns from 1841 to 1901 which are invaluable for tracing metalliferous ancestors as well as a wide range of other important sources for family history: 

Library & Information Services

3) Information on the industrial archaeology of works and mine sites

Information on the industrial archaeology of works and mine sites is held by the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historic Monuments in Wales and by county archaeological trusts. Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments is responsible for the scheduling and listing of ancient monuments and sites: