- Penydarren
Penydarren was the fourth of the great
ironworks established atMerthyr Tydfil in SouthWales . It was built in1784 by the brothersSamuel Homfray ,Jeremiah Homfray , and Thomas Homfray, all sons ofFrancis Homfray ofStourbridge . His father (also Francis) managed a nail warehouse there forAmbrose Crowley . Most of the family were involved in trade asironmaster s orironmonger s (in this context meaning a manufacturer of iron goods).Because the owners of the
Cyfarthfa Ironworks dominated the management ofGlamorganshire Canal , the otherMerthyr Tydfil ironworks built a tramroad toAbercynon bypassing the upper sections of the canal. This "Penydarren Tramroad" (more correctly, the Merthyr Tramroad) was used for a trial of the first railwaysteam locomotive , built byRichard Trevithick . This successfully hauled wagons but was so heavy that it broke many rails. The engine was then used for other purposes as a stationary engine.The business was financed by William Forman of the
Tower of London Fact|date=July 2007, who provided all the capital, partly on mortgage but taking a share in it himself. Samuel Homfray left the business in1813 . In1819 , the partners were William Forman and William Thompson of London. William Forman offered the works for sale in 1859, and the Dowlais Iron Company bought the mineral ground. The works were used intermittently by various others until1883 . Some remains of the works can still be seen.Further reading
* L. Ince, "The South Wales Iron Industry 1750-1885" (1993), 57-60 79-80 etc.
* G. Rattenbury and M.J.T. Lewis. "Merthyr Tydfil Tramroads and their Locomotives" (Railway & Canal Historical Society, 2004).External links
* [http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/penydarren.htm Old Merthyr Tydfil: Penydarren] - Historical Photographs of Penydarren.
* [http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/penydarren_ironworks.htm Old Merthyr Tydfil: Penydarren Ironworks] - Historical Photographs of Penydarren Ironworks.
* [http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/PenydarrenLocomotive.htm Old Merthyr Tydfil: Penydarren Locomotive] - Historical Photographs of the 'Penydarren Locomotive'.
* [http://www.penydarrencountryxi.com Penydarren Country XI Cricket Club]
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