| In the nineteenth century, 90%
of the world’s copper was smelted in the Swansea Valley. As a result
of this a number of smaller industries arose out of its by-products. Arsenic
was found in the copper-rich ores brought from Devon and Cornwall. Copper
deposits also yielded up lead that in turn could be processed to yield silver.
The adoption of Gerstenhofer’s Process, to dispose of noxious copper-smoke,
allowed for the capture of sulphuric acid, which could be used in the tinplate
industry. The benefits of diversification are revealed in Stephen Hughes’
Copperopolis, “The massive infrastructure of the neighbouring Morfa
and Hafod Copperworks encouraged diversification. Henry Hussey Vivian said,
“I had seen the success of our neighbours, the Williams, who were
engaged in a variety of undertakings and I resolved if possible to emulate
them.” He added silver, zinc, yellow metal and coal mining to the
Hafod firm’s activities and by 1854 these were equal to half the firm’s
profits of some £56,000.” |
