Home   

Notable Businesses

The Copperworks

Trading names of the Copperworks

Trade Directory Entries for Coppersmelters

Copper – symbol Cu from Latin Cuprum has the atomic number 29 – is reddish in colour and was thought to be the first metal used by man. The metal is malleable, a good conductor for electricity and heat and has a myriad of uses. It has been used to make coins, plaques, decorations, jewellery, domestic utensils, boilers, pipes, industrial equipment and electric cables.

At the beginning of the 19th century South Wales produced 90% of Britain’s copper and most of the smelting works were situated between Swansea and Neath. The heavy demand for coal led to uncertainty in supply with the resultant fluctuations in price. It is well known that Charles Nevill and his youngest son Richard Janion Nevill came to Llanelli from Swansea, with the intention ofestablishing and overseeing the construction of a copperworks. Father and son were acting on behalf of John Guest, a merchant and industrialist from Birmingham and William Savill, a copper merchant from London.

Coal was in plentiful supply in and around Llanelli and industrialists had already shown an interest in the area. It did not take the astute businessman, Charles Nevill, long to decide Llanelli would be the ideal location for a copperworks. At first Charles and Richard Janion looked at various locations for a suitable site on which to build their venture. They also approached a number of local industrialists including Alexander Raby (senior), John Vancouver, George Warde and the partnership of William Roderick, Thomas Bowen and Margaret Griffith, to secure supplies of coal. One of the sites the Nevills considered was the area near Morfa and Machynys known as Penrhyngwyn. In the event George Warde and the Nevills could not agree on a price for supplying coal to the proposed copperworks and Warde would not grant a sub-lease of Penrhyngwyn.

Eventually, Charles and Richard Janion agreed terms with Roderick, Bowen & Griffiths and finally settled on a suitable site at the Flats or Beach near Penrhos in the Seaside area.

1805 Construction of the Copperworks started in February and resolutions and byelaws were agreed in March. It was estimated that 120 tons of copper ore would be smelted each week.

On 5 March 1805 a formal deed of co-partnership was signed between Ralph Allen Daniell (a merchant and banker from Truro, William Savill, John Guest and Charles Nevill. Although Charles’s son Richard Janion was involved in the formation of the Copperworks Company, he was not made a partner at that time.

Originally copper smelting, which started on 20 September 1805, was the main business. Copper ore was imported from Cornwall and using a long complex process, commercial copper was produced from the ore. The copperworks used William Roderick, Bowen & Griffiths’ dock for importing copper ore but it soon became obvious that the Copperworks would need their own dock.

1805-1806 Work on the new Copperhouse Dock started towards the end of 1805 and the beginning of 1806. The Copperworks Company was anxious to secure a constant supply of coal for their smelting processes.

1807 When William Roderick’s partnership faced financial ruin in 1807 the Copperworks took steps to acquire the partnership’s coal leases. The Copperworks Company continued to expand their business interests and were soon exporting coal as well as importing copper ore. The Company continued to flourish and Charles and Richard Janion were acknowledged as two of Llanelli and district’s leading industrialists.

1813 Lord Cawdor commissioned Charles Nevill (who became known as the Copper King), to supervise the rebuilding of the disused Carmarthenshire leadworks. The leadworks was rebuilt near the copperworks and smelting at the Llanelly Lead Works probably began early in 1813. This in turn led to increased trade for the Copperworks Dock with increased imports of lead ore.

The Nevills were astute businessmen and were determined to make a success of their business ventures. Charles Nevill was a devout Wesleyan Methodist and his wife, Martha, was a lady of compassion and generosity. They realised that if they wanted their business ventures to succeed they would also have to care for their workers and their families. The Copperworks Company provided accommodation for its workforce and in time provided a mini welfare system which included midwifery services, education, health care, social care and free coffins.

The Nevills were also aware of their environment and the impact that their smelting works had on the surrounding area. They recycled all the waste material that was left over from the smelting process. The red-hot molten ‘dros’ or waste material was drained into channels or troughs, which led from the process into moulds. The moulds that held the slag were spherical, square or oblong shaped, when the molten waste had cooled the blocks of slag were tipped out and used for all types of construction purposes. The square and oblong blocks were used for walls and the spherical shapes were used for coping stones. The waste was never allowed to collect in tips but was used for building embankments, roads and foundations. The coping stones were of differing shapes and can still be seen in many places and around Llanelli today. The houses of Custom House Bank were said to have been built of “slag” bricks.

Charles Nevill (senior) died unexpectedly in 1813. His son, Richard Janion, became the Copperworks Company’s main representative but did not take a full partnership. Throughout this time the Copperworks was involved with and controlled development of the large coalfield leased to General Warde and Alexander Raby (senior).

1816-1817 Around this time Richard Janion Nevill was made a full partner in the Copperworks Company and given legal power to transact business on behalf of the other partners. It was also around this time that John Guest sold his interest to the other partners.

Because Richard Janion Nevill was in a position of responsibility, influence and trust, he was able to conduct business more or less on his own terms. In time it became difficult to distinguish between business that he conducted on his own behalf and business he transacted as Managing Director of the Copperworks.

Richard Janion Nevill was described as ‘hot tempered’ but benevolent and was responsible for establishing the works charity school which was a free school for the children whose parents were employed at the Copperworks, and the Caemain and Box Collieries.

1818 The Copperwprks School, which was housed in a storeroom of the Barracks in the Copperworks yard, had 59 pupils with an average attendance of 28.

1823 As other industrialists suffered severe financial difficulties the Copperworks Company with Richard Janion Nevill at the helm was able to withstand the economic uncertainties and during 1823 drew up plans to change their Copperhouse Dock into a floating dock, complete with dock gates. This floating dock, which was the first to be built in Wales, required a large financial commitment, so when Charles Druce (the company’s London Solicitor) died in 1823 it was necessary to form a new co-partnership.

1824 A new partnership was formed in April 1824. Thomas Daniell, Joseph Savill, Richard Janion Nevill and Alexander Druce traded under the name Daniell Nevill and Co.

1825-1830 This was a time of financial concern for the Copperworks Company which had borrowed large sums of money from their London Bankers, the Bank of England and the Miners’ Bank of Truro. The Rabys, Pembertons and General Warde had all been forced to withdraw from their local business interests but by 1830 the Copperworks, under the careful management of Richard Janion Nevill, weathered the financial difficulties and went on to dominate the industrial scene of Llanelli in the 19th century.

1830 Around 1830, Mary, George and Thomas Glascott established a Copperworks – known as the Cambrian Copperworks – near the Nevills Copperworks. The Glascotts continued operations until around 1839 when the Cambrian Copperworks was taken over by the English Copper Company.

1831 The Cambrian, 12th February 1831 - The first cargo of copper ore for the Messrs Glascotts arrived at Llanelly, per Sarah and Ann, on the 30th ult., and we understand that a cargo of foreign copper ore has arrived in this port for the same concern.

1832 The Cambrian, 17th March 1832 - We regret to state, that about five hundred men have been thrown out of work at Llanelly, by the stoppage of the Braes and Talsarnau Collieries in that place. This unfortunate event, added to the recent stoppage of the Copper Works of Messrs Glascott and Co. at that place, must produce much distress among the labouring poor employed in that district.

1839 The Copperworks built a 272 ft high square stack, which cost £2,300, to take away the fumes from the smelting operations.

1841 The English Copper Company continued their operations at the Cambrian works until around 1841. By this time Richard Janion Nevill had created an industrial empire which included a copper smelting works, collieries and a floating dock. He bought ships and he built many more.

1843 The Copperworks was importing ore from Chile, Peru, Spain, the Cape of Good Hope and Newfoundland.

1849 The Llanelly Copperworks Company took over the disused Cambrian Copperworks and converted it into a lead and silver smelting works. The Copperworks also extended the works to include mills for rolling copper and brass.

1856 Richard Janion Nevill died at his home at Llangennech Park at the age of 70 and his son Charles William Nevill continued as managing director of the Copperworks until his death in 1888. His young brother, William Henry Nevill, who also lived at Llangennech Park managed the Lead and Silver Works.

A few years after Richard Janion Nevill died the Copperworks commissioned a chimney – known as ‘Stac Fawr’– to be built. The stack was a landmark and guide for mariners for many years until it was finally demolished in the 20th century.

The Copperworks employed many people, some lived on the premises, others lived in the vicinity or resided in other parts of the town. It has been said that anyone who presented themselves at the Copperworks would be sure of employment whether it was in the Copperhouse, lead works, silver works, docks, ships, coal pits or the railroad system.

Before the days of the steam engines, horsepower was the main power and men and boys were required to look after them. The horses were stabled in the Barracks – which were buildings around a courtyard. When steam power replaced horse power the Barracks were converted into living accommodation for the workers.

A network of railroads wound their way around the Seaside district and men were employed to maintain and run these early transport systems. The Copperworks had their own lime kilns and ore sampling departments. An essential requirement was the blacksmith who was required to make and repair machinery, tools, all types of equipment, and most important of all shoe the horses.

The Copperworks was a community in its own right and grandfathers, fathers and sons worked together in the same or similar trades. It should also be remembered that it was a dangerous place to work and there are many horrific tales of men and boys losing life or limbs in accidents. Many were burnt by molten metal, some were caught in machinery or killed by fumes whilst others were injured or killed by railroad trams.

1873 The Llanelly Copperworks which had been known as Sims, Willyams, Nevill & Co., for many years became known as Nevill Druce & Co. from 1873. Charles William Nevill continued as managing director of the Copperworks until he retired and was followed by his brother, William Henry Nevill.

1888 Charles William Nevill died in 1888.

1894 William Henry Nevill died and the works continued with Richard Austin Nevill (William Henry’s son) as managing director.

1900 By the beginning of the 20th century copper smelting was in decline as the Llanelly Copperworks was feeling the effects of changes in economic factors including increasing American and German competition.

1907 Operating under the name of Nevill, Druce and Co., the Llanelly Copperworks ceased to be involved in Llanelli’s coal industry on 8 April 1907, when the Pencoed Colliery was abandoned.

1920s The general economic depression resulted in a trade slump and the Copperworks was forced to contemplate closure.

1925 400 men were given notice. The company that had been started 120 years earlier and had been a dynamic and dominant force at the start of the 19th century ended with the workers wondering where their future lay.

Trading names of the Copperworks

The Copperworks covered a huge area of Glan y mor, Seaside, and was known as:

Llanelly Copperworks Company

Llanelly Copper Smelting Company

Copperworks Company

1805 Daniell, Savill, Guest and Nevill

Ralph Allen Daniell

William Savill

John Guest (1816 sold his interest)

Charles Nevill

1817 Daniell, Savill, Sons and Nevill

Ralph Allen Daniell

William Savill

Edwin Savill (son)

Joseph Savill, (son)

William Thomas Daniell (son)

Richard Janion Nevill

The constitution of the Llanelly Copperworks Company was changed and Richard Janion Nevill was made a full partner.

1819 Daniell, Son and Nevill

Ralph Allen Daniell

William Thomas Daniell

Richard Janion Nevill

The Savills were copper merchants who traded separately as William Savill and Sons. When they ceased operations and withdrew from the partnership the Copperworks were forced to look for other London Merchants to buy their copper.

1821 Daniell, Son and Nevill

Ralph Allen Daniell (d. 1823)

Thomas Daniell

Joseph Savill

Richard Janion Nevill

It was agreed to continue trading under this name. Charles Druce was their London solicitor who loaned the Copperworks money and Messrs Esdaile & Co were their London bankers who also loaned them money.

1824 Daniell, Nevill and Company

Thomas Daniell

Joseph Savill

Richard Janion Nevill

Alexander Druce

1844 Sims, Willyams, Nevill Druce & Co.

1873 Nevill, Druce & Co.

Charles William Nevill (1816-88)

Alexander Druce (1803-92)

Trade Directory entries for Coppersmelters

1811 Ralph Allen Daniell & Co.

1830 Daniell Nevill & Co.

Shears and Sons, Spitty Works (Agent: Thomas Daniell)

1835 Mary George & Thomas Glascott

Nevill & Copper Company (& manufacturers)

1844 Sims, Willyams, Nevill, Druce & Co., Llanelly Copperworks

1849 Hunt & Co's Directory

Mason & Elkington, Burryport (Manager: Alexander Parks)

Sims, Willyams, Nevill, Druce & Co., (& Lead)

Llanelly Copper & Lead Works

Spitty Copper Company, Spitty, near Loughor (Manager: William C Jones

1867 Slater’s Directory

Mason and Elkington, Pembrey Copper Works & New Hall, Birmingham

Sims, Willyams, Nevill, Druce & Company (& Lead and Silver), Llanelly

Silver & Lead Smelters and Refiners

Burry Port Smelting Company Limited (& manufacturers of lead for white lead & litharge for sugar of lead making), Burry Port, Pembrey. (Secretary and Manager: Arthur Onslow  Douglas

Sims, Willyams, Nevill, Druce & Company, Llanelly

1875 Worrall’s Directory of South Wales

Coppersmelters

Mason & Elkington, Pembrey, Copper Works, Burry Port, R.S.O., and New Hall Street, Birmingham

Nevill, Druce & Co. (and yellow metal manufacturers), Llanelly Copper Works