Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Lift Tower at Tondu Ironworks
Ynysawdre, Bridgend, Wales
A Grade II* listed building in Tondu, Ynysawdre, Bridgend, designated on 9 November 1998.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II*
- Broad class
- Industrial
- Date of designation
- 9 November 1998
- Locality
- Tondu
- Community
- Ynysawdre
- Unitary authority
- Bridgend
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.54802, -3.60010
- Cadw reference
- 20817
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesNational Library of Scotland
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1636 map "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1636 · Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ... (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1637 · The fourth table of England. Cornub. Devonia, Somerset etc. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1865 · England and Wales. England No. 6. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1884 · Glamorgan Sheet XXXIV (National Library of Scotland)
- 1907 · 248 Pontypridd (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Location
Set in the hillside between the company housing of Derllwyn Road and Park Terrace above and the levelled area below where the Engine House stands, against the old furnace bank and opposite the Calcining Kilns.
History
Sir Robert Price developed ironworking here from 1837. This structure appears to belong to the second stage of development under John Brogden who purchased the ironworks in 1854. The lift was used to hoist materials to the charging platforms and was possibly worked by water balance, water-filled tanks beneath the tram cars being used as counter-balance, with the water being discharged as required by weight. Possibly powered by steam, as was more common in later years, but this would be a unique survival. Only other ironworking site in Britan still retaining a hoisting tower is Blaenafon in Gwent.
Exterior
A tall 3 sided tower of yellow brick with stone basement and dressed stone buttresses rear right; inner ledge, holes and grooves for machinery, metal fittings survive in base left; rectangular openings in rear wall. Ivy covered.
Reason for designation
Included at grade II* for its special importance in the history of ironworking in Britain. Group value with the Calcining Kilns.
Scheduled Ancient Monument ref. GM 433 (BRI).
Nearby in the register
- Calcining Kilns and attached abutment at Tondu IronworksIndustrialunder 1 mi
- Remains of Tondu IronworksIronworksunder 1 mi
- Former Blast Engine Houses at Tondu IronworksIndustrialunder 1 mi
- Former Truck Shop Tondu Ironworks now Foxtroy Residential HomeCommercialunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.