More treasures at Copper Quarter in Swansea

Archaeological excavations at Barratt’s Copper Quarter development in Swansea have unearthed some amazing archaeological finds. The first phase of the investigations, in 2007, revealed the remains of furnaces, flues, workshops and railway tracks at the former location of the Upper Bank Copper Works.

The second phase, currently underway, has exposed equally impressive industrial remains, this time standing to nearly two metres in height.

Barratt purchased the land, then occupied by the Addis Plastics factory, in 2005 with a view to developing it. As part of its preparatory studies, Barratt commissioned Greg Pugh, an archaeological consultant at CgMs Consulting, to undertake an archaeological assessment. His research confirmed that the site was the former location of the Upper Bank Copper Works, which had been largely demolished in the 1930s.

During the late 18th century and throughout the 19th century Swansea was the international centre for the copper industry, earning the city the name ‘Copperopolis’.

Given the potential presence of remains of the works and the importance of the copper industry to Swansea, Barratt South Wales agreed with The City and County of Swansea that the site would be subject to archaeological investigation in advance of the residential development. This would allow a record of the site to be preserved for future generations. CgMs agreed a strategy for undertaking the work with the City Archaeologist, Neil Maylan, and appointed the specialist field archaeologists at Oxford Archaeology to undertake the work, which is being funded entirely by Barratt South Wales.

Once the excavations have been completed, Oxford Archaeology will produce a book detailing the findings of the excavation. It is intended that both this, and a more ‘popular’ version, will be available at Swansea’s libraries and in local shops. These publications will also be funded by Barratt.

The scheme has been hailed as an “exemplar of developer funding” by Stephen Hughes, head of survey and investigation at the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW). Mr Hughes is the author of Copperopolis, a book that maps the pioneering industrial and social landscape in Swansea throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.

The excavations are also set to be featured in a television programme celebrating 100 years of RCAHMW, and will also be visited by the Institute of Field Archaeologists as part of their annual conference this year.

With the first phase finished and selling fast, the flagship Copper Quarter development offers a range of stunning new homes including one and two bedroom iPads, and a mix of two, three and four bedroom houses and apartments. With its proximity to the coast, yet within a few minutes’ drive of Swansea’s thriving city centre, Copper Quarter offers a modern mix of urban living with an ideal quality of life.

For further details of available homes log onto Barratthomes.co.uk.