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Sharp as Steel, Tough as Iron: The Story of Brymbo

John Wilkinson, 1728-1808, ironmaster and founder of Brymbo Ironworks © private collection

Brymbo was the location of a nationally important steelworks that was at the heart of a community until its closure in 1990. This exhibition tells the story of steel, the steelworks, and the men and women who worked there.

Brymbo Steelworks started off as an ironworks. John Wilkinson, the Bersham ironmaster, bought the Brymbo Estate in 1792. The estate had the supplies of coal and iron ore that his ironworks needed. In 1796 Wilkinson established a new ironworks at Brymbo. He probably built the surviving blast furnace, known as Old No.1.

In its first year the ironworks produced 884 tons of iron and Wilkinson had big ambitions for Brymbo. He built another furnace in 1804. After his death in 1808, the ironworks suffered from legal disputes, the absence of a skilled ironmaster and a slump in orders after the end of the Napoleonic Wars. The sale of the estate in 1829 provided the opportunity for a new beginning – eventually.

Checklist for a Successful Ironworks

Coal for coking and fuel
Iron ore for smelting
Limestone
Sand for the pig beds and for casting
Regular water supply
Well-built blast furnace
Steam engines for the blast furnace
Skilled workers
Reliable labourers
Talented ironmaster
Investors
Good links by road, rail and canal
Customers(!)