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Ironworks in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
Penydarren iron works, 1811
The lowest bridge over the River Ogwen , is a private bridge within the walls of Penrhyn Park bears the inscription Penydarren Ironworks Glamorganshire
Penydarren Ironworks was the fourth of the great ironworks established at Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales .
Built in 1784 by the brothers Samuel Homfray , Jeremiah Homfray , and Thomas Homfray, all sons of Francis Homfray of Stourbridge . Their father, Francis, for a time managed a nail warehouse there for Ambrose Crowley . Most of the family were involved in trade as ironmasters or ironmongers (in this context meaning a manufacturer of iron goods). Samuel built Penydarren House on the opposite bank of the River Taf , as a home for the family locally.
Because the owners of the Cyfarthfa Ironworks dominated the management of Glamorganshire Canal , the other Merthyr Tydfil ironworks built a tramroad to Abercynon , bypassing the upper sections of the canal. This "Penydarren Tramroad" (more correctly, the Merthyr Tramroad) was used for a trial of the first railway steam locomotive , built by Richard 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 ,[ 1] who provided all the capital, partly on mortgage but taking a share in it himself. Samuel Homfray left the business in 1813. In 1819, 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 until 1883. Some remains of the works are present.
Ince, L.; The South Wales Iron Industry 1750–1885 (1993)
G. Rattenbury and M.J.T. Lewis. Merthyr Tydfil Tramroads and their Locomotives (Railway & Canal Historical Society, 2004).
Historic Welsh railway companies
Great Western Railway
Aberdare Railway
Aberdare Valley Railway
Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway
Alexandra Docks and Railway
Bala and Dolgelly Railway
Bala and Festiniog Railway
Barry Dock and Railway
Barry Railway
Blaenavon Tramroad
Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway
Brecon and Merthyr Railway
Bridgend Railway
Bristol and South Wales Union Railway
Burry Port and Gwendraeth Valley Railway
Cambrian Railways
Cardiff Railway
Cardiff and Ogmore Railway
Carmarthen and Cardigan Railway
Carmarthenshire Railway or Tramroad
Clarbeston Road and Letterston Railway
Coleford, Monmouth, Usk and Pontypool Railway
Corris Railway
Corwen and Bala Railway
Denbigh, Ruthin and Corwen Railway
Ely and Clydach Valleys Railway
Ely Valley Railway
Ely Valley Extension Railway
Gwendraeth Valleys Railway
Hereford, Hay and Brecon Railway
Kington Tramway
Lampeter, Aberayron and New Quay Light Railway
Llancaiach Branch
Llanelly and Mynydd Mawr Railway
Llanidloes and Newtown Railway
Llangollen and Corwen Railway
Llangurig branch
Llantrisant and Taff Vale Junction Railway
Llynvi and Ogmore Railway
Maerdy Branch
Manchester and Milford Railway
Mawddwy Railway
Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway
Mid-Wales Railway
Monmouth and Hereford Railway
Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company
Narberth Road and Maenclochog Railway
Neath and Brecon Railway
Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway
Newtown and Machynlleth Railway
North Pembrokeshire and Fishguard Railway
North Wales Mineral Railway
Oswestry, Ellesmere and Whitchurch Railway
Oswestry and Newtown Railway
Pembroke and Tenby Railway
Pontypool, Caerleon and Newport Railway
Pontypridd, Caerphilly and Newport Railway
Port Talbot Railway
Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway
Rhymney Railway
Rumney Railway
Ross and Monmouth Railway
Shrewsbury and Chester Railway
Shrewsbury, Oswestry and Chester Junction Railway
South Wales Railway
Taff Vale Railway
Tanat Valley Light Railway
Vale of Glamorgan Railway
Vale of Llangollen Railway
Vale of Neath Railway
Vale of Rheidol Railway
Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway
West Midland Railway
Whitland and Cardigan Railway
Wye Valley Railway
Wrexham and Ellesmere Railway
London and North Western Railway Joint lines Independent lines Industrial railways
51°45′11″N 3°22′10″W / 51.753018°N 3.369520°W / 51.753018; -3.369520