Guest,Keen & Knettleford Factory Site
N 51° 39.131 W 003° 01.567
30U E 498192 N 5722354
Site of Guest,Keen & Knettleford Factory Site (1800-1969)
Waymark Code: WM75C3
Location: South Wales, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 09/04/2009
Views: 3
Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds were the largest employer and industrial complex in Cwmbran. (GKN)
The extensive operation included the lower works, the upper works in Cwmbran.
The first forge and foundry on this site began in C1800 by F.J. Blewitt, suceeded by R J Blewitt and well established with a blast furnace by the early 1840s. In 1854 the Cwmbran Iron Company were the owners, with a second blast furnace built in 1862. The forge was sold on, coming into the ownership of the Patent Nut & Bolt Co of Smethwick in 1865. They took over the blast furnaces in 1872, adding rolling mills in 1885-1895 between the blast furnaces and the colliery. So the foundry and blast furnaces formed the lower works with the rolling mills being the upper works.
A larger blast furnace replaced the two originals in 1890 and the company formed the 'Keen' part of the 1902 Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds Ltd.
After WW2 the works bean contracting, finally closing in 1972 with the loss of 800 jobs.
The site now closed and is a retail park.
Type of Historic Marker: Not listed
Historical Marker Issuing Authority: Not listed
Age/Event Date: Not listed
Related Website: Not listed
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