Ruabon Ironworks
of Acrefair, near Wrexham, Denbighshire.
c.1817 An ironworks was established by Edward Lloyd Rowland.
1822 He was made bankrupt
1825 Sale Notice: 'VALUABLE AND EXTENSIVE IRON-WORKS, COLLIERIES, MINES, MANSIONS, FARMS, &c. Near Ruabon, and Wrexham, Denbighshire, North Wales, Land Tax redeemed.
TO RE SOLD BY AUCTION, By J. E. and C. Robins, the Wynnstay Arms, Wrexham, on Thursday, the 14th of April, 1825, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon precisely (by order of the Assignee uuder Mr. Edward Lloyd Rowland's Commission) either in the following lots, or in such other lots as the vendor may then determine upon, and subject to conditions to be then and there produced, free from Auction Duty :
Lot 1 - TWO FREEHOLD ESTATES, called Acrefair and Trefynant, nearly adjoining each other, containing respectively 49a. lr. 3Sp. and 103 a. 3r. 22p. of Arable, Meadow, Pasture, Wood, and other Land, and divers buildings thereon, situate in Ruabon parish, with the Coal, Ironstone, Fire Clay, and other Mines and Minerals. The Iron, Works commonly called the Ruabon or Acrefair Iron Works, stand on the Acrefair Estate, and comprise two furnaces, and blast steam engine complete, forge and steam engine, rolling-mill and steam engine, puddleing and heating furnaces, and other particulars, all erected a substantial and superior manner within the last ten years, and may be again set to work at small expense.
These Works are distant from Ruabon one mile, Wrexham six, Llangollen five, and the London and Holyhead mail road one mile and a half. They are most advantageously situated, communicate by a short rail-road with the Ellesmere Canal, by which the Iron is conveyed to Chester and Liverpool at a trifling expense. The Canal is already brought within 100 yards of Trefynant, and an extension of it is projected through that Estate.
A Colliery is now open on these Estates, for supplying the works with coal and ironstone, and there are conveniences for making fire bricks.
Mr. Richard Smith, Engineer, Tibbington House, after an examination these works, in 1822-3, for the partners then engaged in them, reported that the Mines of Coal and Ironstone remaining in tbe Acrefair and Trefynant Estates alone, and suitable for making pig and merchant bar and rod iron, would supply the two blast furnaces and other necessary works with coal for 20 years, and ironstone for 55 years, sufficient to make upwards of 3750 tons of merchantable bar and rod iron, per annum, and that these Works, from the mineral advantages which they possessed, were able to compete with any similar establishments in the kingdom. The quantities Coal and Ironstone got since that report are very trifling, the works having stopped shortly after.
The purchaser for this lot is to take the works and machinery at a valuation, unless the vendor should at the time of sale determine to have them put up as part of the lot.
It is estimated, that from the estate described in lot a further supply suitable Coals and Ironstone might be obtained for making upwards of 3750 tons of bar and rod iron per annum, for a further period of years, and yet leave a vast surplus of Coal for sale and Ironstone.
Lot 2.— A Freehold Estate, called Plas Bennion, in Ruabon parish, within a mile of the above Works, containing 71a. 3r. 24p. of Arable, Meadow, Pasture, and other Land, and Buildings thereon, with the Coal, Ironstone, Fire Clay, and other Mines and Minerals.
Collieries are at work this Estate, which besides the Coal and Ironstone noticed in Lot 1, possesses Coal in great abundance adapted to other general purposes.
The purchaser of this lot is to take certain engines and colliery implements and machinery of the Estate at a valuation, unless the vendor should at the time of sale determine to have them put as part of the lot.
Lot 3.— A new 20 horse power winding and pumping Steam Engine complete, never used, now on Bennion estate.
Lot 4.—The unexpired Term of Years of Ironstone the Delf Lands, adjoining the Acre-fair estate, containings2a. 2r. 1p. Pits are already open. ......' There were 30 more lots, chiefly relating to property and land.[1]
1825 The idle works were bought by the British Iron Co. There were three furnaces, forges and mills which supplied foundry iron chiefly to the Manchester market.
During 1825 the British Iron Co purchased a number of active ironworks and land on which to build further works. Of these the principal sites were Abersychan in South Wales, Ruabon in North Wales and Corngreaves near Dudley in England.
Randle Bennion, an insolvent debtor, had earlier been clerk to the British Iron Co, Ruabon[2]
1831 'DISTURBANCES in NORTH WALES.
Wrexham, Monday.— We have been very much alarmed in this part of the country during the past week, in consequence ofa turn-out among the colliers in this quarter. It commenced near Hawarden, where the men turned out for, and after a few days delay generally obtained, higher wages. On Monday Sir Watkin Wynn, Colonel of the Denbighshire Yeomanry Cavalry, ordered out the Corps on the occasion, and they continued parading the streets all that day, fortunately without having any occasion for more active service. Next day, however, headed by their Colonel, they came up with the Ifrwd and Bernbo colliers, to the number of several hundred, on their way to Hawarden. They were proceeding peaceably. Sir Watkin inquired what they wanted, and they replied, "employment and more wages." He remonstrated with them, and exhorted them to return home. After some parley the Riot Act was read ; some of the multitude commenced pelting the cavalry, and some blank shots were fired over the people's heads to intimidate them. Three of the rioters were made prisoners, and one of them conveyed to Wrexham gaol by an escort of the yeomanry. The two others were conveyed to a neighbouring house, but the colliers overpowered the yeomen placed over them, and rescued their companions. They then threatened to visit us and rescue the Prisoner by breaking into the gaol ; but, before they reached it, the Magistrates had liberated him, and he met them coming into the town. They did no mischief.
On Wednesday the cavalry assembled again, and proceeded to Acrefair, where the Rhos colliers had joined their fellow-workmen and the miners in that neighbourhood. There were several hundred more assembled than on the preceding day, but they were principally miners. They showed no inclination to riot or tumult, but the Riot Act was read. Captain Morris, with the most laudable activity, endeavoured to learn what were their wants, and he acted as interpreter between them and Sir Watkin Wynn. Mr. Wood, principal Agent to the British Iron Works Company, was present; and he had, it appeared, become very obnoxious to the workmen, by countenancing a Tommy shop belonging to the Company, and kept by a man named Chambers, at Acrefair. The colliers, in addition to their other complaints, were loud in condemning the Tommy system, which they said reduced their wages to a mere nothing, as it compelled them to purchase inferior provisions at a very high price. Sir Watkin called Mr. Wood, and asked him if he could comply with the wishes of the men, and abolish the Tommy shop. Mr. Wood replied No, he could not. The men then said they had another complaint against the shop, the goods sold there being short of weis-ht. Mr. Wood stoutly denied this charge. After a good deal of parleying, it was determined to send for weights and scales, and at the same time for a pound of sugar from the Tommy shop, which was weighed in the presence of Sir Watkin, and found two penny-pieces short of weight. In defence of this it was stated that the sugar had been wrapped up some time, and lost weight by the evaporation of the moisture. At last it was agreed that the Coal Masters and others should meet on the following day at ten o'clock, at the Wynnstay Arms, Rhuabon, where Sir Watkin would attend as mediator for the workmen, and the Cavalry returned home. On Thursday last they met the masters at an inn in Rhuabon ; but the latter declared they could not give the advanced wages ; when this was communicated to the mob it so enraged them that they rushed into the inn, determined to revenge themselves on the masters. All of the latter escaped except Mr. Woods, agent to the British Iron Company, who was discovered half concealed behind a hayrick in the garden. He was most brutally used.
In the afternoon Sir Watkin sent for some of the colliers to know what they demanded as wages. They required, they said 3s. a day for able-bodied men, 2s. 9d. for the next class, and 2s. 6d. for the third ; and they stated that on an average winter and summer, their work was no more than three three days and a half per week. Some of the masters have agreed to this demand conditionally that all the others do the same, and the colliers are now proceeding to the different masters to obtain their assent. Several have given in their adhesion.'[3]
1843 On 2 November the assets of the British Iron Co were transferred to the New British Iron Co and the original company was closed down.
From about 1875 the production of iron was spasmodic
1875 Edward Jones was furnace manager[4]
1880 'TERRIBLE BOILER EXPLOSION. FOUR MEN KILLED. A fatal boiler explosion, causing the loss of four lives, and injuries to fourteen persons, occurred on Saturday at the works of the New British Iron Company, Ruabon. A portion of a boiler, weighing three tons, was blown over the roofs of surrounding buildings, and struck a massive stone chimney, nearly causing it to fall. The works were completely riddled. Three men were instantly killed, and a fourth so burnt that he died shortly afterwards. 100 men were on the premises at the time.'[5]
1887 The New British Iron Co gave prizes for best kept cottages, gardens, etc[6]
1887 Ruabon ironworks were closed