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Home / West Glamorgan Archive Service
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West Glamorgan Archive Service

Date joined: 04/05/18

About

Neath Abbey Ironworks was built by the Quaker firm of Fox and Company of Cornwall in 1792. Going through several vicissitudes and changes of ownership, it closed finally in 1885. During its lifetime, the works produced stationary mining engines, railway locomotives, steam and iron sailing ships for customers, mostly in the United Kingdom but sometimes for British and foreign entrepreneurs based on the European continent and much further abroad, in Mexico and Australia for example. 

The Neath Abbey Ironworks collection at West Glamorgan Archives in Swansea is one of the Archives' most important collections, one of only a handful of archive collections in Wales which are inscribed on the UK register of the UNESCO Memory of the World programme. Over 7,500 extant engineering drawings created for both marketing and manufacturing the engines reveal the technological development of industrial machinery through the nineteenth century and indicate how important the contribution of Wales was to the British Industrial Revolution. Neath Abbey Ironworks products were generally known for their high quality, although some of the early railway locomotives produced by the works as shown here are perhaps best described as experimental.

A generous grant from the Friends of the National Libraries in 2018 has enabled West Glamorgan Archives to digitise and place here a sample of the drawings. You can see the original drawings and thousands more like them at our offices in Swansea Civic Centre (see our website for more information on how to visit us and to search our online catalogue). Please contact us if you require any further information on accessing these records or obtaining copies.

West Glamorgan Archive Service would like to acknowledge here the generosity of the Friends of the National Libraries in the digitisation of these drawings and for their generous assistance in helping us to purchase the collection in 2013.     

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Website: https://www.swansea.gov.uk/westglamorganarchives

    • Items (65)
    • Collections (2)
  • Media Type

    • Picture (63)
  • Industry and Commerce

    • Coal (4)
    • Iron (59)
    • Mining (Other) (3)
    • Steel (1)
    • Trains and Railways (40)
    • Transport (3)
  • 19th century

    • 1810s (5)
    • 1820s (15)
    • 1830s (9)
    • 1840s (9)
    • 1850s (6)
    • 1860s (7)

67 items found

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'Industry': 3D and 2D early...

'Industry': 3D and 2D early...

  • Collection
  • [2 items]
  • 1,774
  • West Glamorgan Archive Service

'Speedwell': 3D and 2D early...

'Speedwell': 3D and 2D early...

  • Collection
  • [2 items]
  • 1,792
  • West Glamorgan Archive Service

3D model of 10 ½ inch locomotive 'Industry...

3D model of 10 ½ inch locomotive 'Industry...

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  • 687
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  • West Glamorgan Archive Service

3D model of the locomotive 'Speedwell'...

3D model of the locomotive 'Speedwell'...

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  • 779
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  • West Glamorgan Archive Service

Messrs Vivian and Sons: cross section of engine...

Messrs Vivian and Sons: cross section of engine...

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  • 398
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  • West Glamorgan Archive Service

Riant & Company, Aubin, France: A pair of...

Riant & Company, Aubin, France: A pair of...

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  • 394
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  • West Glamorgan Archive Service

Golynos Iron Company, Pontypool: Sectional...

Golynos Iron Company, Pontypool: Sectional...

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  • 393
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  • West Glamorgan Archive Service

Gordon and Stuart, Calcutta: house for 20”...

Gordon and Stuart, Calcutta: house for 20”...

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  • 379
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  • West Glamorgan Archive Service

Fourchambault, France: 26" engine, boiler...

Fourchambault, France: 26" engine, boiler...

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  • 455
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  • West Glamorgan Archive Service

Fairplay Mine, Mitcheldean, Osman Barrett: 16...

Fairplay Mine, Mitcheldean, Osman Barrett: 16...

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  • 405
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F. A. de Elorza, Spain: design for a roof, Sept...

F. A. de Elorza, Spain: design for a roof, Sept...

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  • 382
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  • West Glamorgan Archive Service

F. A. de Elorza, Spain: design for a blowing...

F. A. de Elorza, Spain: design for a blowing...

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  • 422
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  • West Glamorgan Archive Service

Mr Thomas Edwards, Newport: sundry views of...

Mr Thomas Edwards, Newport: sundry views of...

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  • 397
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  • West Glamorgan Archive Service

Mr Daniel Edwards & Company, Morriston ...

Mr Daniel Edwards & Company, Morriston ...

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  • 723
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  • West Glamorgan Archive Service

Dynevor Coal Company: chimney for Cwmdu Colliery

Dynevor Coal Company: chimney for Cwmdu Colliery

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  • 338
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  • West Glamorgan Archive Service

William Crawshay, Cyfarthfa: 52 1/2"...

William Crawshay, Cyfarthfa: 52 1/2"...

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  • 467
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Robert Crawshay, Cyfarthfa: 2 horse power...

Robert Crawshay, Cyfarthfa: 2 horse power...

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  • 455
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  • West Glamorgan Archive Service

Henry Crawshay, Cinderford, Forest of Dean:...

Henry Crawshay, Cinderford, Forest of Dean:...

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  • 452
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  • West Glamorgan Archive Service

Cinderford Iron Company, elevation of 54”...

Cinderford Iron Company, elevation of 54”...

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  • 304
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  • West Glamorgan Archive Service

Cannock Coal company: colliery ground plan, 19...

Cannock Coal company: colliery ground plan, 19...

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  • 423
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  • West Glamorgan Archive Service

Cambrian Iron and Smelter Company: Various...

Cambrian Iron and Smelter Company: Various...

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  • 403
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  • West Glamorgan Archive Service

British/New British Iron Company: plan of 52...

British/New British Iron Company: plan of 52...

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  • 392
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  • West Glamorgan Archive Service

Abersychan Rolling Mill: design for furnace, n.d.

Abersychan Rolling Mill: design for furnace, n.d.

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  • 391
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Abersychan Rolling Mill: Crane, 9 Mar. 1827

Abersychan Rolling Mill: Crane, 9 Mar. 1827

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  • 377
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  • West Glamorgan Archive Service

Abersychan Rolling Mill: Front elevation of...

Abersychan Rolling Mill: Front elevation of...

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  • 367
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Aberdare Coal Company: 50" engine,...

Aberdare Coal Company: 50" engine,...

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  • 363
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  • West Glamorgan Archive Service

Aberdare Coal Company: A pair of 12"...

Aberdare Coal Company: A pair of 12"...

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  • 388
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  • West Glamorgan Archive Service

Aberdare Canal Company: engine house for a 28...

Aberdare Canal Company: engine house for a 28...

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  • 402
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  • West Glamorgan Archive Service

Elevation of beam engine, n.d.

Elevation of beam engine, n.d.

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  • 321
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  • West Glamorgan Archive Service

Elevation of beam engine, and engine-house, n.d.

Elevation of beam engine, and engine-house, n.d.

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  • 328
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