Villiers Spelter Co
near Swansea, zinc (spelter) refiners
1873 The Villiers plant opened roasting zinc ores
The British zinc industry declined as it could not compete with American and German supplies.
WWI Zinc was an important strategic component of the war industry, particularly in the production of brass ammunition casings and galvanised steel sheeting; the majority of the British zinc industry was based in the Swansea area.
Recognising that the country could no longer rely on foreign imports of zinc, the government attempted to revive the industry and maximise the output from its already antiquated plants.
At some point the Villiers plant became the British Metals Extraction Company Ltd. (or was this British Metal Corporation?)
However the local pollution from the plant caused many complaints and the Ministry of Munitions set up an eqnuiry.
1919 The British Metals Extraction Company closed, never having recovered from the restrictions placed on it by the Ministry of Munitions
Early 1920s the plant re-opened under the Villiers name once more
1924 Finally closed as part of the general demise of the British zinc industry
OR
By 1925 the spelter was still operating independently.
See Also
Sources of Information
- GGAT 130: The Sinews of War: South East Wales Industry and The First World War, 2015, by Johnny Crawford