KIDWELLY BRICK WORKS
Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire. SN 401066 (approx)
Period of operation: 1858 to c.1903
[Chronology] [a] Kidwelly Brick Works to the north of Kidwelly station was opened c.1858 by William Edwards of Swansea [b]. This was later continued by Messrs Frederick & Jenner [c]. By c.1895 the works may have been owned by Daniel Stephens [d]. The works was not in operation in 1908 [b].
[a] General information from “Gwendraeth Valley Railway” (to be published) MRC Price.
[b] History of Kidwelly - Rev. D Daven Jones BA - 1908
[c] Frederick & Jenner are listed in Slaters Directory of 1880 as at Glyn Neath.
[d] F J Stephens was manager of Abernant Dinas Silica Brick Co, Glyn Neath in 1891. Any family connection? (Kelly’s 1891)
KIDWELLY BRICK WORKS
Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire. SN 402064
Period of operation: 1903 to 1965
[Chronology] [a] A new works was built to the south of of the railway station by Alderman Daniel Stephens which opened in 1903. In 1904 a siding was built to the GWR. Twenty kilns were built at the works over various periods with at least 18 available for use at one period.
Stephens worked silica from Mynydd-y-Garreg and this was brought into the works via the GVR over the GWR at Kidwelly. In 1910 a locomotive was acquired to work this traffic [b], with another acquired in 1917 and a third in 1947, all built by Pecketts of Bristol. In addition, 2ft 6in gauge locomotives worked the quarries at SN 432083 from 1925 until the mid 1950s. The 1915 map shows a considerable number of sidings at the Brick Works [c].
Up to 1927 the firm was known as Stephens & Co, but later as Stephens Silica Brick Co Ltd [d]. The works closed in 1965.
[a] General information from “Gwendraeth Valley Railway” (to be published) MRC Price.
[b] “Industrial Locomotives of Dyfed & Powys” by John De Havilland: (p41, 155, 168)
[c] Map 330 prepared by John de Havilland for “Gwendraeth Valley Railway” MRC Price.
[d] Entry in Cope’s Industrial Directory 1931/2 quotes: Stephens & Co, Dinas Silica.
IRS 6-257
D&P 155 to 12/1927: Stephens & Co (D&P 41, 155, 168)
12/1927 to closure: Stephens Silica Brick Co Ltd. (D&P 41, 155, 168)
Cope 1931/2. Stephens & Co. Dinas Silica.
ID 52 Stephens Silica Brick Co Ltd. Kidwelly. (ID 1952/)
ID 52 Penwyllt Silica Brick Co Ltd. Kidwelly.
DINAS BRICK WORKS
Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire* SN 410062
Period of operation: 1865 to 1950s
[Chronology] Dinas Brick Works was probably established c.1865 by Redford & Harris [a]. In 1884 the firm were trading as G Redford & Co [b]. By 1899 the works was in the hands of H & HE Smart producing fire bricks under the name of brand “R Dinas” [c]. (Smart was associated with the local tin-plate industry?).
According to a 1915 map of the works there were six kilns on the site at that time. Two sidings connected the works to the GVR [d][e]. The firm remained in existence until at least the 1950s [f].
It is possible that Smart took over the operation of Young’s railway and locomotive after the demise of the latter’s business.
[a] History of Kidwelly - Rev. D Daven Jones BA - 1908
[b] Kelly’s Directory of 1884 Redford [G] & Co. Dinas Brick Works, Kidwelly.
[c] MBD 1899: Smart, H & HE, Fire Brick & Silica Works, Established 1874. Manufrs of Silica Fire Bricks (Brand ‘R Dinas’) and cement. . .
Lon 1899: Smart H & HE. Fire brick & Silica works. Established 1874. Manufrs of Silica fire bricks (Brand R Dinas’) and cement. Gannister for furnace bottoms, ground silica for use in iron, steel, copper, glass and gas works &c. Telegrams ‘Smart, Kidwelly’.
[d] Map 330 prepared by John de Havilland for “Gwendraeth Valley Railway” MRC Price.
[e] Only one siding shown on p133 of Cooke’s GWR Atlas 1947 (Wild Swan)
[f] Industrial Directory of Wales & Monm. 1952: Smarts Dinas Silica Co Ltd. Quay Road, Kidwelly. (Presumably Smart amalgamated with Stephens, and also Penwyllt Dinas Silica Co as ref [f] quotes all three as having offices at Quay Road, Kidwelly).
K 1884 Redford [G] & Co. Dinas Brick Works, Kidwelly.
MBD 1899 Smart, H & HE, Fire Brick & Silica Works, Established 1874. Manufrs of Silica Fire Bricks (Brand ‘R Dinas’) and cement. . . .
D&P 152 to 1922: A Y Dinas Silica Brick & Lime Co
from c/1922: H&HER Smart
from 3/1929: Smart’s Dinas Silica Brick Co Ltd
Lon 1899 Smart H & HE. Fire brick & Silica works. Established 1874. Manufrs of Silica fire bricks (Brand R Dinas’) and cement. Gannister for furnace bottoms, ground silica for use in iron, steel, copper, glass and gas works &c. Telegrams ‘Smart, Kidwelly’.
ID 52 Smarts Dinas Silica Brick Co Ltd. Kidwelly.
D&P 58 Connection to std gauge.
ALEXANDER YOUNG’S BRICK WORKS
Near Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire. SN 436094
Period of operation: 1900 to c.1927
[Chronology] [a] In 1877 Alexander Young built a bank of lime kilns at Penymynydd Farm, Four Roads. These stood adjacent to Young’s standard gauge railway, presumably built at the same time as the kilns, which ran to a junction with the Gwendraeth Valley Railway (GVR) at Mynydd-y-Garreg. According to one source the bank of kilns was massive, being 120ft wide and 60ft high [b]. A 0-4-0ST locomotive by the name of DUXBURY operated on this line at one period, probably from about 1905 [c].
In 1900 Alexander Young built a silica Brick Works on land near Graig, north of Mynydd-y-Garreg. Alexander died probably in 1903 or 4 and the business was carried on by William Young [d]. The business traded as A Y Dinas Silica Brick & Lime Co [e].
By 1917 there were plans to enlarge the works from four kilns to six with additional machinery, and to be powered by a stationary gas engine which would replace an old steam engine. Bricks used in the construction came from Trimsaran and Hancocks(?), as their own silica bricks were not suitable for general construction works as they deteriorate quickly inwet weather. At the same time as the extension was built a new siding was laid on Young’s railway alongside the works. An inclined narrow gauge tramway was also installed in the winter of 1917, but because of operating difficulties this was probably not used much.
By 1922 the works were said to be in the hands of the Amalgamated Dinas Silica Brick Co Ltd [f]. The works probably closed in 1921 but kept intact with the hope of re-opening. The Amalgamated Dinas . . . Co was wound up in 1927 and most of the equipment disposed of. Some buildings may have remained up to the time of WW2.
[a] General information from “Gwendraeth Valley Railway” (to be published) MRC Price.
[b] Regional History of Railways - South Wales - DSM Barrie
[c] IRS D&P/58/152. With new information recently supplied there is some confusion regarding the various sites owned by Young and Smarts?
[d] William Young was presumably the son of Alexander?
[e] K 1906: Young [Alexander], Glanmorfa, Kidwelly.
[f] Amalgamated Dinas Silica Works Ltd are listed in Kelly’s in 1923 and 1926 as at Swansea - presumably office address, and at Glyn Neath. No other works location listed.
Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire. SN 401066 (approx)
Period of operation: 1858 to c.1903
[Chronology] [a] Kidwelly Brick Works to the north of Kidwelly station was opened c.1858 by William Edwards of Swansea [b]. This was later continued by Messrs Frederick & Jenner [c]. By c.1895 the works may have been owned by Daniel Stephens [d]. The works was not in operation in 1908 [b].
[a] General information from “Gwendraeth Valley Railway” (to be published) MRC Price.
[b] History of Kidwelly - Rev. D Daven Jones BA - 1908
[c] Frederick & Jenner are listed in Slaters Directory of 1880 as at Glyn Neath.
[d] F J Stephens was manager of Abernant Dinas Silica Brick Co, Glyn Neath in 1891. Any family connection? (Kelly’s 1891)
KIDWELLY BRICK WORKS
Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire. SN 402064
Period of operation: 1903 to 1965
[Chronology] [a] A new works was built to the south of of the railway station by Alderman Daniel Stephens which opened in 1903. In 1904 a siding was built to the GWR. Twenty kilns were built at the works over various periods with at least 18 available for use at one period.
Stephens worked silica from Mynydd-y-Garreg and this was brought into the works via the GVR over the GWR at Kidwelly. In 1910 a locomotive was acquired to work this traffic [b], with another acquired in 1917 and a third in 1947, all built by Pecketts of Bristol. In addition, 2ft 6in gauge locomotives worked the quarries at SN 432083 from 1925 until the mid 1950s. The 1915 map shows a considerable number of sidings at the Brick Works [c].
Up to 1927 the firm was known as Stephens & Co, but later as Stephens Silica Brick Co Ltd [d]. The works closed in 1965.
[a] General information from “Gwendraeth Valley Railway” (to be published) MRC Price.
[b] “Industrial Locomotives of Dyfed & Powys” by John De Havilland: (p41, 155, 168)
[c] Map 330 prepared by John de Havilland for “Gwendraeth Valley Railway” MRC Price.
[d] Entry in Cope’s Industrial Directory 1931/2 quotes: Stephens & Co, Dinas Silica.
IRS 6-257
D&P 155 to 12/1927: Stephens & Co (D&P 41, 155, 168)
12/1927 to closure: Stephens Silica Brick Co Ltd. (D&P 41, 155, 168)
Cope 1931/2. Stephens & Co. Dinas Silica.
ID 52 Stephens Silica Brick Co Ltd. Kidwelly. (ID 1952/)
ID 52 Penwyllt Silica Brick Co Ltd. Kidwelly.
DINAS BRICK WORKS
Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire* SN 410062
Period of operation: 1865 to 1950s
[Chronology] Dinas Brick Works was probably established c.1865 by Redford & Harris [a]. In 1884 the firm were trading as G Redford & Co [b]. By 1899 the works was in the hands of H & HE Smart producing fire bricks under the name of brand “R Dinas” [c]. (Smart was associated with the local tin-plate industry?).
According to a 1915 map of the works there were six kilns on the site at that time. Two sidings connected the works to the GVR [d][e]. The firm remained in existence until at least the 1950s [f].
It is possible that Smart took over the operation of Young’s railway and locomotive after the demise of the latter’s business.
[a] History of Kidwelly - Rev. D Daven Jones BA - 1908
[b] Kelly’s Directory of 1884 Redford [G] & Co. Dinas Brick Works, Kidwelly.
[c] MBD 1899: Smart, H & HE, Fire Brick & Silica Works, Established 1874. Manufrs of Silica Fire Bricks (Brand ‘R Dinas’) and cement. . .
Lon 1899: Smart H & HE. Fire brick & Silica works. Established 1874. Manufrs of Silica fire bricks (Brand R Dinas’) and cement. Gannister for furnace bottoms, ground silica for use in iron, steel, copper, glass and gas works &c. Telegrams ‘Smart, Kidwelly’.
[d] Map 330 prepared by John de Havilland for “Gwendraeth Valley Railway” MRC Price.
[e] Only one siding shown on p133 of Cooke’s GWR Atlas 1947 (Wild Swan)
[f] Industrial Directory of Wales & Monm. 1952: Smarts Dinas Silica Co Ltd. Quay Road, Kidwelly. (Presumably Smart amalgamated with Stephens, and also Penwyllt Dinas Silica Co as ref [f] quotes all three as having offices at Quay Road, Kidwelly).
K 1884 Redford [G] & Co. Dinas Brick Works, Kidwelly.
MBD 1899 Smart, H & HE, Fire Brick & Silica Works, Established 1874. Manufrs of Silica Fire Bricks (Brand ‘R Dinas’) and cement. . . .
D&P 152 to 1922: A Y Dinas Silica Brick & Lime Co
from c/1922: H&HER Smart
from 3/1929: Smart’s Dinas Silica Brick Co Ltd
Lon 1899 Smart H & HE. Fire brick & Silica works. Established 1874. Manufrs of Silica fire bricks (Brand R Dinas’) and cement. Gannister for furnace bottoms, ground silica for use in iron, steel, copper, glass and gas works &c. Telegrams ‘Smart, Kidwelly’.
ID 52 Smarts Dinas Silica Brick Co Ltd. Kidwelly.
D&P 58 Connection to std gauge.
ALEXANDER YOUNG’S BRICK WORKS
Near Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire. SN 436094
Period of operation: 1900 to c.1927
[Chronology] [a] In 1877 Alexander Young built a bank of lime kilns at Penymynydd Farm, Four Roads. These stood adjacent to Young’s standard gauge railway, presumably built at the same time as the kilns, which ran to a junction with the Gwendraeth Valley Railway (GVR) at Mynydd-y-Garreg. According to one source the bank of kilns was massive, being 120ft wide and 60ft high [b]. A 0-4-0ST locomotive by the name of DUXBURY operated on this line at one period, probably from about 1905 [c].
In 1900 Alexander Young built a silica Brick Works on land near Graig, north of Mynydd-y-Garreg. Alexander died probably in 1903 or 4 and the business was carried on by William Young [d]. The business traded as A Y Dinas Silica Brick & Lime Co [e].
By 1917 there were plans to enlarge the works from four kilns to six with additional machinery, and to be powered by a stationary gas engine which would replace an old steam engine. Bricks used in the construction came from Trimsaran and Hancocks(?), as their own silica bricks were not suitable for general construction works as they deteriorate quickly inwet weather. At the same time as the extension was built a new siding was laid on Young’s railway alongside the works. An inclined narrow gauge tramway was also installed in the winter of 1917, but because of operating difficulties this was probably not used much.
By 1922 the works were said to be in the hands of the Amalgamated Dinas Silica Brick Co Ltd [f]. The works probably closed in 1921 but kept intact with the hope of re-opening. The Amalgamated Dinas . . . Co was wound up in 1927 and most of the equipment disposed of. Some buildings may have remained up to the time of WW2.
[a] General information from “Gwendraeth Valley Railway” (to be published) MRC Price.
[b] Regional History of Railways - South Wales - DSM Barrie
[c] IRS D&P/58/152. With new information recently supplied there is some confusion regarding the various sites owned by Young and Smarts?
[d] William Young was presumably the son of Alexander?
[e] K 1906: Young [Alexander], Glanmorfa, Kidwelly.
[f] Amalgamated Dinas Silica Works Ltd are listed in Kelly’s in 1923 and 1926 as at Swansea - presumably office address, and at Glyn Neath. No other works location listed.
KILLAN COLLIERY BRICK WORKS
Dunvant, Swansea, Glamorganshire. SS 587942
OS 25” (unknown date presumed c.1900) brick kilns in area of Killan Colliery in area called “Brick Field”.
OS 1921 6” - Killan Colliery (two Brick Works nearby, but not shown on 1900 6”).
WG/82 W W Holmes & Co. Killan Colliery, Dunvant; Killan Colliery Co until 1901.
The colliery was opened in 1899 on the site of previous workings, about half mile north-west of Dunvant station on the LNWR 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.
Std Gauge locomotive: “Curlew” 0-4-0ST MW 1247/1891 sold or scrapped.
2ft gauge locomotive: 0-4-0WT OK 6759/1914, new to works and sold to Richard Thomas & Co, South Wales Steel Works, Llanelli.
Dunvant, Swansea, Glamorganshire. SS 587942
OS 25” (unknown date presumed c.1900) brick kilns in area of Killan Colliery in area called “Brick Field”.
OS 1921 6” - Killan Colliery (two Brick Works nearby, but not shown on 1900 6”).
WG/82 W W Holmes & Co. Killan Colliery, Dunvant; Killan Colliery Co until 1901.
The colliery was opened in 1899 on the site of previous workings, about half mile north-west of Dunvant station on the LNWR 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.
Std Gauge locomotive: “Curlew” 0-4-0ST MW 1247/1891 sold or scrapped.
2ft gauge locomotive: 0-4-0WT OK 6759/1914, new to works and sold to Richard Thomas & Co, South Wales Steel Works, Llanelli.
