This conference discussed metallurgy in relation to status and faith, with guided tours of Rievaulx Abbey and Helmsley Castle.
Anniversary of Cyfarthfa Ironworks
HMS AGM 2016
17th-19th June
Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
Organised by Tim Young
This meeting celebrated two separate anniversaries
- 250th anniversary of the construction of Cyfarthfa Ironworks (1765-7)
- 225th anniversary of the first successful commercial implementation of the puddling process (1791)
Based in the Merthyr Tydfil area, this conference was held to discuss a range of related topics including the story of puddling (technology, economics, social history, engineering implications, international adoption), as well as the wider story of iron conversion technology and the broader development, social history and context of the iron industry in Merthyr Tydfil and South Wales from 1750 to 1950. There was also discussion of the development of Cyfarthfa Ironworks and its people (Bacon, the Homfrays, the Crawshays, their engineers and partners).
On Friday before the conference started there was a rare opportunity to visit Ffos-y-fran opencast coal mine. On Sunday there was another excursion through the sites of the Taff Valley in Merthyr, excursion on foot (approx 7km), sites visited included:
- Merthyr (Penydarren) Tramroad tunnel,
- Ynysfach Ironworks,
- Chapel Row,
- Cyfarthfa Ironworks
