Lower Swansea valley
The lower Swansea valley is situated in South Wales. It is the lower valley of the river Tawe. It starts from the Clydach and ends to Swansea docks. Here, it flows to the Bristol channel and Swansea bay. This small stretch of land was the center of industrial invention during the time of the Industrial revolution. This led to a change in the landscape and a quick rise in the economy and population of Swansea.
History
For a time span of nearly 150 years till the 1920s, the most heavily industrialized areas of the developed world was the open valley of River Tawe. There were several reasons due to which there was a tremendous increase in industry in this location. During the exploitation of coal in the South Wales valley, it was revealed that there was anthracite and steam coal near the surface of the Swansea valley. So, there were open cast or shallow drift mines in these areas. There was also a good port and safe anchorage at Swansea. As three parts of coal were required for smelting one part of metal ore, it was financially very profitable to have good quality coal. It became financially more practical to transport the ore to the coal rather than the opposite. Additionally, the high tidal ranges at Swansea permitted ships to reach the river mouth. Due to this huge amounts of raw materials could be brought in Swansea. The more crucial point is that the finished products could be easily exported.
Industrial growth
In Swansea, there was a development and refinement of the technologies in iron making. Swansea had become a town of considerable size that could supply the needed skilled workforce for the industry. The enhancement of the industry in the lower Swansea valley led to an increase in the population of Swansea and neighboring Neath. Many rich entrepreneurs, engineers and scientists were enticed to settle in Swansea and as a result there was considerable industrial progress. At the beginning, the smelting works were focused on copper. The coal was transported by tramways and waggonways. The copper ore was transported on ships that could sail up to the works. The copper metal was transported back in the same way. Due to this, Swansea became famous as “Copperopolis.” The lower Swansea valley became a collection of industry. Further, pottery making, the alum industry and the manufacture of fire clay was also begun.
Environmental problems
Considerable industrialization took place in the lower Swansea valley, when there were no environmental controls. This led to a pollution of water and land by an entire gamut of poisonous pollutants. The River Tawe became much polluted. The stream that meandered through the lower half of the valley was badly affected. It seems possible that for a time span of more than 100 years, water was fetched from this stream to be utilized in the factories. The liquid waste from several factories was mixed with this stream. Additionally, the rainfall from the increasing waste tips enhanced the waste materials in the stream. During the boom of the industrial revolution in the Lower Swansea valley, lithographs were made. These prove thick smog over the valley and closeby towns. It can be concluded that there was considerable air pollution in these regions.