Kidwelly Old Tinplate Works and Dam

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The monument consists of a tinplate works, dating to the 18th century and believed to have been the second tinplate works to be established in Britain. The Kidwelly Old Tinplate Works was begun in 1737 and includes extensive remains below ground, including wheel pits and water courses, rolling mill bases, and furnace and forge remains. These were exposed during an excavation in 1985 and were consolidated before the site was largely back-filled.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of 18th or 19th century industrial practices. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology and building techniques. A tinplate works may be part of a larger cluster of monuments and their importance can further enhanced by their group value.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive. It is bounded to the west by the river bank and the dam walls on both sides, to the south by the boundary wall, and to the east by the large revetment walls.