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Kidwelly Tinplate Works
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Collection

Kidwelly Tinplate Works Photographic Archive

The photographic archive of the Kidwelly Tinplate Works offers a rare and compelling window into one of Wales’s most important industrial communities.The photographic archive of the Kidwelly Tinplate Works offers a rare and compelling window into one of Wales’s most important industrial communities.

Old photograph of workers at Kidwelly

These images capture the people, processes and everyday moments that shaped a site once known for its innovation, craftsmanship and global reach. 

From early workshop scenes and portraits of skilled rollers and tinmen, to views of the machinery, yards and riverbank that defined the works’ landscape, the collection preserves a world that has largely disappeared. Each photograph reveals something different: the precision of the craft, the camaraderie of the workforce, the changing technologies, and the rhythms of life in a town built around metal and fire.

Alongside the industrial story, the archive also reflects the social fabric of Kidwelly itself. Families, events, and glimpses of the surrounding community sit alongside production shots, reminding us that the tinplate works was not just a workplace but the heart of local identity for generations.

Whether you’re exploring family history, researching Welsh industry, or simply curious about how the past looked through the lens, this archive invites you to step into the world of the tinplate workers who helped shape modern Wales.

*Please note that all images are courtesy of the Kidwelly Heritage Centre and Tinplate Museum Trust unless otherwise specified.

 

Boxing and Assorting Rooms

Scenes of the exterior and interior of the brick building that housed the Boxing and Assorting Rooms

End view of a restored historic industrial building constructed from brick with a white-painted gable wall. A set of steps and an accessible ramp lead to a large arched entrance doorway.
Interior of a large industrial workshop or factory building during restoration work. The spacious brick-floored hall is mostly empty, with construction materials, timber, and equipment arranged around the edges.
Historic brick industrial building undergoing restoration. The long single-storey structure has a weathered corrugated roof and a row of tall arched window openings along its side.
Historic black-and-white photograph of a long brick industrial building with a weathered slate roof and boarded-up windows. The gable end of the structure shows areas of damage and repair, with sections of brickwork infilled around former openings.

Chimney

Views of the remaining chimney stack

Historic industrial site featuring a tall brick structure, possibly part of a furnace or engine house, with an arched opening at its base.
Wide view of a former industrial complex dominated by a tall brick chimney standing beside two large metal structures.
Historic brick industrial building standing beside a substantial brick chimney. The long rectangular building has a pitched slate roof, arched windows, and weathered brickwork.
Colour photograph of a tall brick industrial chimney standing beside a historic brick workshop or engine house.
Elevated black-and-white view of a former industrial complex dominated by a tall brick chimney and surrounding buildings.

Hot Rolls

The Foden engines and the rebuilding of the Hot Rolls shed

Close-up view of large historic industrial machinery, showing rusted iron beams, gears, and mechanical components within a metal framework.
Partially completed steel-framed industrial building under construction at a historic industrial site. Corrugated metal cladding has been fitted to some sections, while exposed steel roof trusses and support columns remain visible.
Interior view of an industrial building during construction or restoration. Corrugated wall panels and steel support columns line the background, while freshly laid concrete, timber formwork, gravel, and protective sheeting cover the foreground.
Close-up black-and-white photograph of a large historic industrial engine surrounded by scaffolding and steel roof supports during conservation work.
Black-and-white photograph showing a large piece of historic industrial machinery enclosed within the steel framework of a building under construction. Exposed metal roof trusses and upright steel columns surround the machinery, while overgrown shrubs and rough ground occupy the foreground and sides.
Colour photograph of a large industrial building under construction, with green corrugated wall cladding installed along much of the exterior. A crane lifts structural components onto the roof while workers stand near the open end of the building.

Weir

The dam/weir and its restoration

Black-and-white photograph of a stone weir and bridge spanning a river. Water flows steadily through several arched openings beneath the structure, creating small cascades below.
Black-and-white photograph showing a historic stone weir crossing a river. Three arched channels carry water beneath the structure, with stepped stonework visible on one side.
Colour photograph of a broad stone weir stretching across a river, featuring three large arched openings beneath a parapet wall. Calm water in the foreground reflects the structure and surrounding landscape.
Colour photograph of a historic stone weir spanning a river, viewed from downstream. Water flows gently through several arched openings beneath the structure. In the foreground, a person in a dark coat and light-coloured cap stands on the riverbank observing the work.
Black-and-white photograph showing a historic stone weir crossing a river. A temporary rectangular water-control structure has been installed across part of the river above the weir, likely for maintenance or restoration work.
Colour photograph of a historic weir undergoing restoration. Newly constructed brick and concrete features line the top of the structure, including parapet sections, access openings, and metal railings.