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Corus |
Photograph © Andy Taylor 2003 The Museum is situated in a superbly restored farmhouse on the Corus site When the Trostre Works was being built in 1947, the management put a lot of thought into how they would develop a reception and conference centre for visiting executives from all over the world. Mr J. F. S. Gazard, who was the Assistant General Manager of the Steel Company of Wales Limited, Tinplate Division, decided to utilise one of the derelict farmhouses on the site. It is thanks to this man of vision that the Maesarddafen Fach farmhouse avoided the fate of the other farmhouses and cottages in the area. After visiting the St Fagan's Welsh Folk Museum and carrying out research work at various libraries, Mr Walter Hodges transformed the historic farmhouse both inside and out into an 18th century Welsh cottage. Originally built over two hundred years previously, the farmhouse had been allowed to deteriorate and only the 2ft thick walls remained. The tiles had fallen off the roof and the timbers had rotted and were sagging. Mr Hodges used materials that matched the originals, including timber recovered from the South Wales Tinplate Works at Machynys which was used to replace the beams and roof supports, whilst timber from old tinplate works in the Forest of Dean were used for the fireplace lintels. The roof was thatched in the traditional manner and a Welsh thatcher was employed to carry out the work. Decoration and finishing touches were all carefully planned and the outside was painted pink – in keeping with traditional local practice. Finally, a search was made for antique Welsh furniture, which completed the transformation of the Trostre Works Cottage and Industrial Museum that can been seen today (June 2003). Acknowledgement: Mr Keith E Morgan, C.Eng., M.I.E.E., M.C.M.I. Curator Trostre Works & Industrial Museum Visit Corus for more information |
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