Port Talbot and the Afan Valley

Aberavon - SS 7900 8985

Aberavon Burrows brickworks is shown as a 'sand siding' on the 1899 map and as a brickworks on the 1917 edition. It was way out on the beach then but had disappeared by 1939 and the site is now covered by housing and seemingly inland.

Thomas Jenkins was the owner of Aberavon tinplate works until 1874 and excavations by GGAT revealed a number of bricks with his name imprinted. However he is not known to have owned a brickworks himself. Either he owned an unknown brickworks or had his bricks made at one of the other local brickworks.

Aberavon Brickworks, 1884

Aberavon Brickworks, 1917

'T Jenkins & Son Aberavon'

'T Jenkins & Son Aberavon'

Argoed - SS 8192 9494

Argoed Brickworks, near Cynonville in the Afan Valley appears on the 1897 and 1918 maps but had disappeared by 1940. It was probably opened with Argoed Colliery by Llewellyn Howell and Co in the 1890s. In 1923 it became the property of Herbert Hudson and Co who closed the colliery in 1927 when perhaps the brickworks closed too.

Argoed Brickworks, 1897

'Howell Argoed'

'Howell Argoed'

'Hudson Argoed'

Bryn, near Cwmavon - SS 8264 9175

Bryn and Cwmavon Brick Works Co. The earliest reference to this brickworks I can find is the 1906 Kelly's Directory and it appears in subsequent issues until the mid 1920s. A Grade II listed building, their website mentions that Bryn Brickworks was constructed after 1894 and continued production into the 1920s. They also state the kiln block stood at the SE end of the works adjacent to a siding of the Port Talbot Railway. The kiln is the only surviving structure on the site, although a large wall of undetermined purpose but probably for mounting equipment for the loading of railway wagons is adjacent to the kiln about 100 yards to the west. The kiln is substantially complete although it seems to be used as a shelter by the local sheep and does smell rather unpleasant. If this were mine I'd give it a good clean inside, remove all the decades of sheep-transferred mud and tidy up all the loose bricks lying around. It would make a great centre-piece for a museum of the once-large south Wales brick industry. A bit out-of-the-way though, it would never have any visitors! (Text by Mike Stokes)

Bryn Brickworks, 1921	Bryn Brickworks, 1948	'Bryn Port Talbot'	'New Brickworks Bryn'
'New Brickworks Bryn'		Bryn Brickworks, 2014	Bryn Brickworks, 2014
Bryn Brickworks, 2014	Bryn Brickworks, 2014	Bryn Brickworks, 2014	Bryn Brickworks, 2014

Cwmavon - SS 7805 9221

This brickworks was established by 1877 next to the Cwmavon Tinplate Works. It seems to be the 'Cwmavon Brick Works Co' by 1891 with SH Byass as Managing Partner. The brickworks is still shown on the 1918 map but had gone by 1938. Bricks with the 'Cwmavon' mark are believed to come from here as the nearby Eagle works promoted it's own identity.

Cwmavon Brick Works, 1877	Cwmavon Brick Works, 1899	Cwmavon brickworks in c1900	Cwmavon brickworks in 1920
'Cwmavon' type 1	'Cwmavon' type 1	'Cwmavon' type 2	'Cwmavon' type 2
'C A B W'	'S H Byass Cwmavon'	'SHB Cwmavon'

Cwmavon - SS 7901 9253

The Eagle Brick Works, Cwmavon, was built in 1907 and first appears on the 1913 OS map. It was run by the 'Eagle, Bryn and Cwmavon Brick Works Ltd', becoming the 'New Eagle and Bryn Brick Works Ltd' by 1926, finally 'Evans and Bevan' by 1961 and closed in 1967. The works is still shown as 'disused' on the 1975 OS map.

Eagle Brick Works, 1918	Eagle Brick Works, 1936	Eagle Brick Works, Cwmavon	Eagle Brick Works, Cwmavon
Eagle Brick Works, Cwmavon	Eagle Brick Works, Cwmavon	Eagle Brick Works, Cwmavon	'Eagle'
'Eagle'	'Eagle Port Talbot'	'Evans-Bevan Ltd Cwmavon'	'Evans-Bevan Ltd Cwmavon'

Margam Copper Works - SS 7730 8840
Margam Tinplate Works Upper Forge - SS 7720 9060

These were two small brickworks operating in 1877 asummedly for their respective parent works. They had both disappeared by 1899.

Margam Copper Works brickworks

Margam Tinplate Upper Forge

Neath and the Nedd Valley

Baglan and Briton Ferry

Baglan - SS 7441 9300

The 'Briton Ferry Coal & Pottery Co Ltd' owned the Baglan Brickworks. It was owned by George and Daniel Jenkins and operated from c1850 to c1885.

Baglan Brickworks	Briton Ferry advert, 1881
'Briton Ferry Coal & Pottery'	'BFC&P Co Ld'	'BFC&P Co Ld'

Briton Ferry - SS 7348 9398

There was a brick kiln in Briton Ferry ironworks in 1880 but the ironworks had shut by 1899.

Briton Ferry - SS 7400 9394

A small brickworks owned by George Bedford from c1844 until his death in 1884.
The use of 'Porthcawl' on his bricks is a mystery. Mike Stokes researched his possible connections and you can read the full details here :- Porthcawl Brickworks

Briton Ferry Ironworks, 1882	Briton Ferry Brickworks, 1875	'Jersey Brick & Coal Co' brickworks, 1882
'Bedford Briton Ferry & Porthcawl'	'Established 1844'

Briton Ferry - SS 7411 9345

'Jersey Coal & Brick Co Ltd' was working from c1845 to 1889, when M Richards terminated his lease with the Earl of Jersey.

Neath

The Green, Neath - SS 7487 9735

The brickworks here is on OS maps from 1877 to 1919 but has gone by the 1935 edtion.

The Green, Neath - SS 7502 9768

The firebrick works first appears in 1899 and is 'disused' by 1935 though the site is still marked 'brickworks' in 1951. By 1970 it was a 'concrete works'.

The Green, Neath, 1913

Neath Firebrick works, 1913

Neath Brickworks, 1913

The Green, Dinas Brickworks - SS 7493 9749

Dinas Brickworks, The Green, Neath, owned by Young & Allen of Pontwalby, Hirwaun and Nantgarw Pottery. The brickworks is shown on the 1877 OS map but is disused by 1914. At some time it was owned by 'J B Jenkins & Co'. From 1935 it is shown as a 'concrete works'.

Dinas Brickworks, Neath, 1914

'JBJ', Dinas Brickworks, Neath

Dinas Brickworks press report, 1878

Dinas Brickworks press report, 1901

Melincrythan, Neath - SS 7466 9644

Melincrythan brickfield and claypits are on the 1878 and by 1899 boasted a short tramway. The site appears derelict in 1918 and was built over by 1935.

Melincrythan, Mill-lands Brick and Tile Works - SS 7470 9693

Mill-lands Brick and Tile Works opened before 1877 until after 1919. By 1935 it was no longer shown with the Mill-lands engineering works taking some of the site.

Melincrythan, Cambrian Brickworks - SS 7533 9598

Cambrian Brickworks, Melincrythan, Neath was established in 1882 by J Brooks Taylor and became 'J Brooks Taylor and Co Ltd' in 1912 but went into liquidation in May 1949. They also owned the Cwmdu brickworks in Skewen at one time.

Mill-lands Brickworks, 1877	Mill-lands Brickworks, 1913	Melincrythan brickworks, 1877	Melincrythan brickworks, 1899
Cambrian Brickworks, 1897	Cambrian Brickworks, 1935	Cambrian Brickworks, c1890	'Taylor'
'Taylor Neath'	'Taylor Neath'	'Taylor Neath'	'Taylor Neath Skewen'

The Nedd Valley

Aberdulais - SS 7750 9962

Aberdulais Colliery and Brick Co appear to have 5 kilns on the site of Wen-y-Gored Colliery in 1899 but they are not shown in 1880 or 1919. However the company was in existence in 1834 and listed in Kelly's for 1884, 1891 but not 1895 and may have closed about then.

Resolven, Melincourt brickworks - SN 8208 0202

Melincourt Brickworks was opened in c1861 by George Bedford. By 1884 it was held by Capt Formby’s 'Melincourt Brick Works Co' with H Bateman as manager became the Melin Court Brick & Terra Cotta Co Ltd in 1891 with John Taylor as manager. In 1891 Kellys reported that J B Taylor & Co made bricks at Melin y Cwrt with the clay levels last worked in c1890. Mike Stokes visited the site on 6th October 2014 and found that the site had not been developed. There were extensive earthworks although unable to distinguish any features and no named bricks were found on site.

Aberdulais Brickworks, 1899

Melincourt Brickworks

'Melincourt'

'Melincourt Neath'

Resolven, Resolven Brickworks - SN 8338 0291

Resolven Brickworks, Neath was functioning before 1877 and kilns were on site in 1918 but were being subsumed into the Glyncastle Colliery complex.

Resolven Brickworks, 1899

'Resolven'

Glynneath, Abernant - SN 8819 0629

'Abernant Dinas Silica Brick & Coal Co', founded in 1843, formerly the 'Anglo Russian Iron Co', was located on the north side of the River Neath and the GWR railway about half mile west of Pont Walby Halt. Rail served by the Abernant Private Line (opened 1879) which connected with the GWR at Glyn Neath station. The works are shown as 'disused' from 1914 up to 1938 and were not on the 1948 map. A standard gauge 0-6-0ST, Fox Walker 360 of 1878 was new to the works. The company offered a locomotive for sale in the Western Mail during 1901 which may have passed to P Baker, a Cardiff dealer.

Abernant Brickworks, 1875	Abernant Brickworks, 1897
Abernant Brickworks, Glynneath	Abernant Brickworks, Glynneath	'Abernant'

Glynneath, Pont Walby - SN 8896 0675

Pont Walby Brick and Tile Works, Glynneath opened c1822 as the 'Dinas Fire Brick Co' as a partnership involving David Morgan, a Neath Ironmonger, John Player and Joseph Young. The company changed names regularly in the first few years, in that time being 'John Player & Co' in 1825 and 'Riddles, Young & Co' from 1829 to 1834. In 1852 it became 'Young and Allen' to include the Hirwaun brickworks managed by N B Allen. The Young family were in financial difficulties in 1860 and the Pontwalby works became 'Vale of Neath Dinas Fire Brick and Cement Co'. It appears to have closed by1923 when the company's accounts cease. and by 1938 the works had gone and the site cleared.

Pontwalby Brickworks, 1875	Pontwalby Brickworks, 1899	Pontwalby Brickworks lease, 1907	Pontwalby Brickworks lease, 1907
Pontwalby Brickworks	Pontwalby Brickworks	Glynneath brickworkers

Glynneath, Dinas Rock Brickworks - SN 9102 0800

Dinas Rock Brickworks or Dinas Bridge Firebrick works was owned by Fredericks and Jenner from about 1820. In 1857 the works and the site were taken over by Curtis and Harvey's gunpowder factory. The brickworks is still shown on the 1877 OS map but had gone by 1901. The ruins of the gunpowder factory are impressive and the site is well worth a visit.

Glynneath, Dinas Silica Brickworks - SN 8973 0692

Dinas Silica Brickworks, Glynneath, appears to have opened after 1878, it first appears on the 1897 OS map. A building is shown in 1914 beside the tramroad and traffic on the tramroad ceased in 1925. In 1891 'Dinas Silica Co' listed Louis G Mauchel as manager and in 1926 'Amalgamated Dinas Silica Works Ltd' are listed in Kellys Directory.

Dinas Rock Brickworks, 1878

Dinas Silica Brickworks, 1897

'DSFB Co'

Dulais Valley

Seven Sisters - SN 8151 0749

Brynteg or Nant-y-Cafn Brickworks was open by 1878 but disused on 1899. By 1919 the kilns are still shown but Bryn-teg Colliery hsa taken over the site.

Brynteg Brickworks, 1880

Brynteg Brickworks, 1919

Onllwyn - SN 8444 1046

Onllwyn Colliery was purchased by Evans and Bevan Ltd and the brickworks was built after 1914. It became part of the NCB in 1947. The colliery closed in 1964 and presumably the brickworks closed then as well. Evans and Bevan Ltd also owned brickworks at Skewen and Killay.

Onllwyn Brickworks, 1948	'E & B Ld Onllwyn'	'E & B'	'Onllwyn'
'NCB Onllwyn' type 1	'NCB Onllwyn' type 2	'NCB Onllwyn' type 3	'NCB Brick'

Skewen - SS 7193 9746

Cwmdu Brickworks, Skewen, Neath, opened prior to 1845 by John Grainger. It was leased by the Dynevor Coal Co for 60 years in 1873 and had passed to J Brooks Taylor Co of the Cambrian Brickworks, Melincrythan, Neath by 1925. It was latterly owned by Evans-Bevan Ltd and seems to have closed in the early 1960s. Evans and Bevan Ltd also owned brickworks at Onllwyn and Killay.

Cwmdu Brickworks, Skewen, 1876	Cwmdu Brickworks, Skewen, 1897	Cwmdu Brickworks, Skewen, 1914	Cwmdu Brickworks, Skewen, 1948
'Cwmdu'	'Taylor Neath Skewen'	'Evans-Bevan Ltd Cwmdu Skewen'	'E & B Skewen'

Swansea

Swansea City to Morriston

Town Quay Yard, Strand, D W Johns - SS 657933

David White Johns was a prolific builders merchant, active in the 1870s, with a very wide range of products. He appears to have been solely a merchant so this brick may have been made by one of his suppliers, perhaps as a sample.

D W Johns advert

'D W Johns Swansea'

'D W Johns Swansea'

Swansea Potteries - Unknown location

Swansea Potteries Ltd appears to have been at work in the 1920s and 1930s but that's all I know. I'm afraid I don't even know where it was. This item was found in North Wales following the demolition from some 1930s seaside chalets.

'Swansea Potteries Ltd'

'Swansea Potteries Ltd'

Landore, Mile End Pottery - SS 6595 9533

Mile End Pottery was owned by James Howell and was in operation before 1878, listed as a Brick and Tile Manufacturer. In 1892 it was part of an auction of properties being sold. It doesn't appear to have produced bricks but this pillar capping stone is in Swansea.

Mile End Pottery, Landore, 1880

Mile End Pottery auction, 1892

'James Howell Mile End Pottery'

'James Howell Mile End Pottery'

Landore, Swansea Siemens Brick Co - SS 6697 9651

Swansea Siemens Brick Co, Landore, produced the silica bricks needed for the various Siemens steelworks in the area. The works is shown on OS maps from 1876 to 1948.

Siemens Brickworks in 1876	Siemens Brickworks in 1897	Siemens Brickworks in 1948	'Swansea Siemens Brick Co Landore'
'Swansea Siemens Brick Co Landore'	'Swansea Siemens Brick Co Landore'	'SSBCo'	'SSBCo'

Llansamlet, Roundpit Brickworks - SS 6901 9754

Roundpit Brickworks, Llansamlet is on the the site of Roundpit Colliery and may originally have been part of it. The colliery had ceased coal production by 1897 when the brickworks took over until some time after 1913.

Roundpit Brickworks, 1897

Roundpit Brickworks, 1913

'White Llansamlet'

Morriston, Copper Pit Brickworks - SS 6695 9700

This brick was more than likely made by Copper Pit Collieries Ltd. in Morriston, Swansea after 1908 when they re-opened the Copper Pit colliery. The Copper Pit Brickworks, Neath Road, Morriston, Swansea is listed in Kelly's 1923 and 1926 editions. it seems to have become part of the Swansea Brick Works Co Ltd later.

Copper Pit Colliery

'Copper Pit'

'Copper Pit'

Morriston, Graig Brickworks - SS 6670 9720

Graig Brickworks, Morriston, Swansea, later it was part of the 'Star' empire.

Graig Brickworks, Morriston, 1899	'Graig Engineering'	'Gower a STAR product'	'Graig Morriston a STAR product'
'Graig Morriston a STAR product'	'Graig Brick Co Morrison'	'Graig Brick Co Morrison'	'Graig Brick Co Morrison'
'Graig Morriston'	'Graig Morriston''	'Graig Morriston'

Morriston, Morriston Silica Brick Co - SS 6717 9840

The 1876 OS map appears to show pits which by 1898 had become a three kiln brickworks but marked 'disused'. By 1906 it seems to be up and running again, possibly by 'James Bros', and the 'Morriston Silica Brick Co (1929) Ltd' was formed (in 1929 I assume). The three kilns are enclosed or replaced by 1938, still there in 1955 but a Fire Station is on the site in 1968. I haven't seen an example of a 'Morriston' brick so if you have, please let me know.

Morriston Brickworks pits, 1876

Morriston Brickworks, 1897

Morriston Brickworks, 1948

Morriston, Swansea Brickworks - SS 6735 9740

Swansea Brick Works Co Ltd, Morriston, operated in Swansea between 1921 and 1957 when it was demolished. The area is now the Morriston South Industrial Estate.

Swansea Brickworks, 1942

'Swansea', Swansea Brickworks

'Swansea', Swansea Brickworks

'Swansea', type 2

Treboeth, Treboeth Brick and Tile Co - SS 6524 9644

Treboeth Brick and Tile Co, Swansea

Treboeth - SS 6554 9624

Brickfield and claypits at Treboeth in 1879 and marked 'Old Claypits' in 1899, possibbly connected with the adjacent Pentre Pit

Treboeth Brick and Tile Co, 1899

Treboeth brickworks, 1899

Upper Bank, Bonymaen - SS 6834 9501

Two brickworks existed here, the earlier works of 1899 was at SS 6815 9521. A later works, the 'Upper Bank Brick & Tile Works' of 1916 was next to the disused Ty Draw Colliery, possibly replacing the earlier site. The 1936 map shows the later site to have been cleared.

Upper Bank Brick and Tile Co, 1899

Upper Bank Brick and Tile Co, 1916

'Upper Bank Swansea'

Cockett, North-West Swansea

Cae-bricks brickworks - SS 6502 9510 and SS 6484 9543

Two brickworks are shown in Cae-bricks, Swansea, both open in 1879 but not shown in 1899.

Cwmbach Brickworks, Cockett - SS 6281 9526

Cwmbach Brickworks, Cockett, Swansea, had opened by 1899 on the site of Cwmbach Colliery but was shown as disused in 1916.

Cwm-du brickworks - SS 6446 9501

Cwm-du brickworks, Swansea, open in 1879 but not shown in 1899.

Cae-bricks Brickworks, Cockett, 1879

Cwmbach Brickworks, Cockett, 1899

Cwm-du Brickworks, Cockett, 1879

Gendros Brickworks - SS 6360 9525

Gendros Brickworks, Swansea, appears to have been part of the 'Gendros Colliery & Brickworks Co', opened in 1896 and prosecuted for keeping unlicenced explosives in 1899. In 1914 a kiln roof collapsed injuring three men. It appears to have closed in the 1930s but doesn't appear on any maps of the area.

Glasbrook's Werngradog Brickworks, Fforestfach

'Glasbrook's Brick and Tile Co' was established by John Glasbrook, a colliery owner, in the 1850s. It was later run by his sons; John Glasbrook Sons and Company Limited was wound up voluntarily in 1929. They were prosecuted in 1890 for employing under-age boys. The site, Werngradog, is unclear but it may have been part of Glasbrooks Garn-coch Colliery at SS 6125 9695.

Gendros Brickworks, Cockett, 1899

'Glasbrook' from Werngradog Brickworks

'Glasbrook' from Werngradog Brickworks

Gorse Brickworks, Cockett - SS 6324 9446

Gorse Brickworks, Cockett, Swansea was in production by 1899 but was shown as disused in 1916.

Gorse Brickworks, Cockett, 1899

'Gorse'

'Gorse'

Swansea Brickworks - SS 6359 9491

Swansea Brickworks, on the other side of the railway tunnel from Tunnel Brickworks.

Tunnel Brickworks, Swansea - SS 6339 9490

Tunnel Brickworks was opened after 1850 when the South Wales Railway 'tunnel' was built. By 1878 it was owned by Thomas Harris and shown as Wig-fawr Brickworks on the first OS map. Harris went bankrupt in 1885 and by 1914 It was owned by 'J Osman & Co Ltd' and manageged by C H Jenkins. This company was dissolved in 1919 and by 1938 the works had gone leaving the claypits to be filled in. At some time Tunnel Brickworks were advertising in the South Wales Daily Post “For Sale at the Tunnel Brickworks, Fforestfach – A horizontal engine, Lancashire boiler with a quantity of bricks and scrap iron.”
Mike Stokes visited the site in 1991 and reported :- "The Tunnel site is now mostly abandoned with not much evidence of the works. The clay pits are now the site of a compound for council vehicles (or British Telecom?). A large number of different types of Tunnel bricks were found and salvaged for the collection" (Mike's brick collection is now at Risca Museum).

Tunnel Brickworks, Swansea, 1878	Tunnel Brickworks, Swansea, 1896	Tunnel Brickworks, Swansea, 1913	Fake news is nothing new
Tunnel Brickworks snuffbox	'Tunnel' type 1	'Tunnel' type 2	'Tunnel' type 3
'Tunnel' type 4	'Tunnel' type 5	'Tunnel' type 5 reversed 'N	'Tunnel Swansea'
'Tunnel Brick Co Swansea'	'Tunnel Brick Co Ltd Swansea'

Weig Brickworks, Cockett - SS 6371 9458

Weig Brick and Tile Co or Wig-fach Brickworks, Cockett, Swansea operated c1895 to 1926. Visited by Mike Stokes on 28th February 1991 who investigated the site in Meadow Street (formerly Percy Street) which now has a corrugated iron garage built on it. The claypits further up the road are now used as a lock-up compound for a local plant hire firm.

Weig Brickworks, Cockett, 1917

'Weig'

'Weig'

Clyne Valley, West Swansea

Clyne Valley Brickworks, Killay - SS 6025 9220

The works was owned by Frederick Pinn (1880s), James Howell & Co (1890s) and John Napier (1920s) becoming the Clyne Valley Brick & Tile Co Ltd and finally Evans and Bevan Ltd in the 1950s and 60s. A narrow gauge tramway ran from the works south-west under the BR line to clay pits. Works closed c.1965 and site cleared c.1968. In 1950 a new 4wDM RH 296102/50 was used on the tramway until closure. Evans and Bevan Ltd also owned brickworks at Onllwyn and Skewen.

Clyne Valley brickworks, 1913	Clyne Valley brickworks, 1948		'Clyne Valley Brick & Tile Co Killay'
'Clyne Killay'	'Clyne Valley'	'Clyne Valley'	'Clyne Valley'
'Killay'	'Killay'	'Killay'
'Evans Bevan Clyne Works Killay'	'E - B Killay'	'Evans Bevan'

Dunvant Brickworks, Swansea - SS 5955 9373

Dunvant Colliery was owned by Phillip Richard from at least 1886 until at least 1905; it had passed to the New Dunvant Colliery Co Ltd by 1913. The colliery was sited on the east of the LNWR line with rail connections just north of Dunvant station. Phillip Richard was the eldest son of Phillip Richard of the Birch Rock Colliery, Pontardulais. The brickworks is only shown on the 1896 map.

Killan Brickworks, Dunvant - SS 5901 9409
Killan Old Brickworks, Dunvant - SS 5924 9384

A Killan Colliery existed in 1878 at SS 5810 9385 but it had closed by 1896 with two new Killan Collieries appearing to the North c1899 connected to Dunvant by a branch line. By 1923 the colliery was owned by Killan Collieries Ltd. Production ceased in 4/1925 following liquidation. Salvage was completed by 8/1925 and the site then abandoned though the 'old' brickworks was still shown on the 1948 map. There were two locos on the Colliery lines, Std Gauge “Curlew” 0-4-0ST MW 1247/1891 sold or scrapped. and 2ft gauge 0-4-0WT OK 6759/1914, new to works and sold to Richard Thomas & Co, South Wales Steel Works, Llanelli.

Dunvant Brickworks, 1896	Killan Brickworks, 1913	Killan Brickworks loco 'Curlew'
Killan Brickworks power house	Killan Brickworks press report	'KC' possibly for 'Killan Collieries'

Penlan Brickworks, Dunvant - SS 5957 9423

Penlan Brickworks was owned by Samuel Jones and Sons as 'Jones. S & Sons (Dunvant) Ltd and 'Penlan Brickworks (Dunvant) Ltd. The 'S&S Dunvant' may be a mis-spelling of 'SJ&S' or may be deliberate but is likely to be from Penlan. A 4wPM, L 35154/50, was new to the works but there is no record of its disposal. The works was open from c1895 to at least 1948 and Penlan Brick Works (Dunvant) Ltd is still listed in 1952

Penlan Brickworks, 1899

Penlan Brickworks, 1916

'S&S Dunvant'

Penlan Brickworks tunnel

Voylart Brickworks, Dunvant - SS 5920 9355

Two brick kilns are shown in a brick field to the West of Voilart Colliery on the 1877 map but the colliery had gone by 1900 with the brickworks marked as 'disused'. It seems to have survived until 1948, still shown as an 'old brickworks'.

Voilart Brickworks, 1878

Voilart Brickworks, 1896

'Voylart Coy Dunvant'

Swansea Valley and West Glamorgan

The Swansea Valley

Clydach - SN 6880 0098

Clydach Brickworks was working by 1871 and carried on until WW2 at least, being shown as 'disused' in 1962. Slater's Directory of 1871 lists 'Moody Brothers, fire brick makers & colliery proprietors, Clydach & Cwm Cappel Colliery' later trading as 'Moody Bros & Co Ltd'. In 1925 the 'Clydach Bricks & Concrete Ltd' took over the brickworks.

Clydach Brickworks, 1899	Clydach Brickworks, 1935	Clydach Brickworks advert, 1871
'Moody'	'Moody Clydach'	'Moody Clydach'	'Moody Clydach'
Clydach B & C Ltd advert, 1925	Clydach B & C Ltd advert, 1925	'Clydach CB&CL Swansea'

Glais - SN 7110 0154

Llwyndu Brick and Clay Co, Glais in 1891 and later the Llwyndu Fire Brick Co Ltd. This brickworks is still shown on the 1962 OS map but has gone by the 1968 edition. I've read on the Welsh Coal Mines site that there was a Llwyn Du Graigola Colliery and Brick company Ltd in 1887 and the works may have closed in the 1940s.

Llwyndu Brickworks, Glais, 1899

Llwyndu Brickworks, Glais, 1935

'Llwyndu Glais'

Penwyllt - SN 8547 1516

The Dinas Silica Brickworks at Penwyllt was opened in 1865 by Kershaw & Pole Ltd and ceased production in1939. It was owned by the Penwyllt Dinas Silica Brick Co Ltd from 1895 to 1928 and then the Penwyllt Silica Brick Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Stephens Silica Brick Co Ltd of Kidwelly, until 1940.

Dinas Silica Brickworks, 1877	Dinas Silica Brickworks, 1903	Dinas Silica Brickworks, Penwyllt	'Penwyllt'
Penwyllt brickworks	Penwyllt brickworks	Penwyllt brickworks	Penwyllt brickworks
Penwyllt brickworks	Penwyllt brickworks	Penwyllt brickworks	Penwyllt brickworks
Penwyllt brickworks	Penwyllt brickworks	Penwyllt brickworks	Penwyllt brickworks

Pontardawe, Ynys-meudwy - SN 7473 0584

Ynys-meudwy Brickworks was established in 1844 by Ebeneezer Edwards. It is shown on the 1878 OS map but by 1898 the site was a tinplate works. The brickworks was owned by 'Lewis & Morgan' in 1871 according to Slaters directory. Whether this is the same brickworks as 'W. B. Co', or who they are, is not known at the moment.

Ynysmeudwy brickworks, 1878

'W. B. Co Pontardawe'

Ystalyfera, Ironworks - SN 7670 0863

Ystalyfera Ironworks brickworks, Ystalyfera. This brickworks appears to be an integral part of the Ystalyfera Ironworks site by 1877. By 1885 the furnaces had been blown out and the works produced tinplate. The 1898 map shows the brickworks as 'disused' and as an 'old Brickwks' in 1914. By 1948 the site has become a bowling green.

Ystalyfera brickworks, 1876

Ystalyfera brickworks, 1896

Ystalyfera brickworks, 1914

Ystalyfera, Farteg - SN 7809 0867

Farteg Brickworks is shown from 1913 to 1953 on OS maps but has gone by 1964. The National Museum has a 'Varteg Brick Co' brick but it isn't illustrated or on display. 'Varteg Brick Co' appears to be linked with the 'South Wales Anthracite Colliery Co' of Ystradgynlais.

Farteg brickworks, 1914

Farteg brickworks, 1948

'Varteg Brick Co'

Ystalyfera, Gurnos - SN 7724 0926

The Gurnos & Darren Brick Co Ltd brickworks appears to pre-date the adjacent tinplate works, perhaps they used the bricks to build the tinplate works? It's first shown on the 1877 map without the tinplate works which arrives for the 1898 map. By 1964 both tinplate and brickworks are marked 'disused'.

Gurnos Brickworks, 1877	Gurnos Brickworks, 1898	Gurnos Brickworks, 1913	Gurnos Brickworks, 1948
'Gurnos'	'Gurnos'	'Gurnos'

Ystalyfera, Tirbach - SN 7720 0931

The Tirbach Brick Co Ltd next to Tirbach Colliery was formed in the 1890s appearing on the 1896 map. By 1914 the company was in liquidation and failed to sell at auction. It disappears some time after 1921 as its not shown in 1948.

Tirbach Brickworks, 1898	Tirbach Brickworks, 1913	Auction of Tirbach Brickworks	Unsold notice for Tirbach
Tirbach Brickworks, 1898	Tirbach Brickworks, 1913	'Tirbach'

Ystalyfera, Yniscu - SN 7753 0838

Yniscu Colliery and Fireclay Works, Ystalyfera. This is the site of a small colliery named Ynys-y-Geinion Colliery in 1877, Daren Colliery in 1896, Yniscu Colliery and Fireclay Works in 1914 and Yniscu Colliery in 1948. Its life as a brickworks seems very short.

Yniscu Fireclay Works, 1914

Ystradgynlais, Cae'r-lan - SN 8048 1217

Cae'r-lan Brickworks, near Ystradgynlais is open before 1877 but is marked 'disused' by 1903 and is an 'Old brickworks' on the 1913 and 1948 maps. the site is now under the A4067 village by-pass.

Cae'r-lan Brickworks, 1877

Cae'r-lan Brickworks, 1913

Ystradgynlais, Penrhos - SN 8046 1126

The Penrhos Brickworks Co Ltd is reported in trade directories from 1906 onwards. It is shown on the 1953 OS map but marked 'disused' by 1964. A site visit in 1995 found nothing left at all and the owner believed it was demolished c1963. The company was wound up in 1968.

Penrhos brickworks, 1914

Penrhos brickworks, 1948

'Penrhos'

'Penrhos'

West Glamorgan

Penclawdd, Berth-lwyd - SS 5610 9632

Berth-lwyd Brickworks was in operation by 1877 and was 'disused' by 1896. By 1913 the site was occupied by the loading dock for Berth-lwyd Colliery.

Berth-lwyd Brickworks, 1877

Berth-lwyd Brickworks, 1896

Berth-lwyd Brickworks, 1913

Berth-lwyd Brickworks sale notice

Gwaun-cae-gurwen, Cwmgors - SN 7065 1110

Cwmgorse Brickworks, Gwaun-cae-gurwen opened c1906 as the Cwmgorse Brick Co Ltd becoming the Cwmgorse Brick Works Co Ltd by 1931. Later, in the 1950s, it became part of the British Anthracite Sales Ltd and British Anthracite Co Ltd group. It ceased production c1966.

Cwmgorse Brickworks, 1913	Cwmgorse Brickworks, 1948	Cwmgorse Brickworks
'Cwmgorse'	'Cwmgorse'

Pontardulais - SN 5981 0308

According to Coflein, Bolgoed brickworks was originally built in the late 19th century, there is no trace of the early brickworks on OS maps. There was a 'Bolgoed Coal and Brick Co' registered in 1908. It was demolished in 1913 and the present kiln built to replace it, but closed in 1916. It was re-opened in 1930, probably by the 'Star' group and appears to have closed soon after 1948. 'The Star Brick and Tile Co Ltd' of Newport belatedly registered the freehold in Aug 1966.

Bolgoed brickworks, Pontardulais, 1913

Bolgoed brickworks, Pontardulais, 1948

'Bolgoed Pontardulais, A Star Product'

Ystradowen, Bryn-henllys - SN 7556 1252

Bryn-henllys brickworks in Henllys Vale, Cwm Twrch was owned by the Tirbach Brick Co and opened at the end of the 19th century. It is on the 1903 OS map but marked as 'old brickworks' in 1913. 30 years later and it appears to be still standing in 1948, obviously too remote to worry anyone. Please note that this is not connected with the Henllys Brickworks, Cwmbran, Mon. All the 'Henllys' bricks I've seen illustrating Henllys Vale are from Monmouthshire !

Bryn-henllys brickworks, 1903

Bryn-henllys brickworks, 1948

Acknowledgments, sources and further reading.

This page is particularly dedicated to the work of the late Mike Stokes, who had a huge knowledge of South Wales brickworks and their products. A great many other people have supplied information and photos to add to the story, so many thanks to (alphabetically) Graham Bennett, Mike Bennett, Roy and Billy (W E) Bowen, Kieran Campbell, Ian Cooke, Mark Cranston, Gareth Hugh Davies, Gary Davies, Steve Davies, Judith Doyle, Richard Evans, Stephen Evans, 'Fforestfach History', Martyn Fretwell, Gwent Glamorgan Archaeolgical Trust, Andrew Harvard, Thomas Henderson, Wyndham Hopkins, Tracey Hucker, Gwyn Jenkins, 'Jock the Mole', Glen Johnson, Kes Jones, Mike Kilner, David Kitching, Frank Lawson, Tim Lawton, Norman Lowe, Frank Moore, Stephen Parry, Richard Paterson, Alan Perkins, Ian Pickford, Glyn Roberts, Dave Sallery, Lawrence Skuse, Ian Suddaby, Templeton Heritage Group, Gareth Thomas, Stephanie Thomas, David Wood amonst many others.

The 'Old Bricks' website is the best source of info on bricks and brickworks in the UK :- Old Bricks - history at your feet

For very good coverage of Scottish bricks and quite a bit about other places too :- Scottishbrickhistory.co.uk

Martyn Feltwell has two very good sites here :- East Midlands Named Bricks and UK Named Bricks
There is a specialist society for brick history :- britishbricksoc.co.uk

There's also a 'Facebook' group for bricks and brickworks :- Facebook 'Bricks and Brickworks past' group