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Post by londonwelsh on Feb 4, 2011 17:45:06 GMT 1
Hi
On the 1881 Census my G-G-Grandfather is a Weigher In Iron Works and his son is a Straightner In (steel) Works (Jun).
At the time of the census they were living in 22 Church Street, Dowlais.
Can anyone give some more details about what their occupations entailed?
And what iron works they were mostly likely to be workign at?
Thank you
Paul
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Post by robertjones on Aug 4, 2013 18:39:02 GMT 1
They would have been working in the Dowlais Works ( Ivor Works section ) The Dowlais Ironworks was a major ironworks and steelworks located at Dowlais near Merthyr Tydfil, in Wales. Founded in the 18th century, it operated until the end of the 20th, at one time in the 19th century being the largest steel producer in the UK. They would have been involved in the first steel making in Britain. 1880s a very good time for Dowlais. Dowlais Ironworks were the first business to license the Bessemer process, using it to produce steel in 1865. They would have been involved in the manufacture of railway lines for India and America. In the steel Works, as the rail passed through the rolls it would bend very slightly up and down as the offset rolls ironed out internal stresses built up during cooling. He would have used heavy machinery / rollers to straighten the railway rails ..... a skilled job.
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Post by londonwelsh on Aug 20, 2013 15:07:57 GMT 1
Hi Robert
Thank you very much for the information, much appreciated.
Paul
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Post by londonwelsh on Jun 4, 2015 16:59:23 GMT 1
I visited India this year and travelled on the Railways, perhaps a romantic idea, but I may have travelled on railway lines manufactured by my ancestors?
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