Old Beam Pump & Winding Engine, Glyn Pits

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

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

The monument consists of the remains of a winding engine house, beam pumping engine house, two shafts and pond, dating to the 19th century. The winding engine house dates to the mid 19th century and is constructed of dressed stone. It contains a single cylinder double acting vertical steam engine 30” bore and 5’ stroke driving two 15’ diameter flat rope drums. It was made by the Neath Abbey Engineering Works between 1840 and 1845. The beam pumping engine house has a Cornish type Beam Engine, with a separate condenser and parallel motion. It was also built by the Neath Abbey Works and installed in 1845. The engine has a 24” bore and 6’ stroke. The pond was presumably used as a supply for a balance wheel, which would have been the first structure on the site.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of 18th or 19th century inductrial 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. An industrial building 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.