The Dowlais Iron Works had been operating near Merthyr Tydfil since 1759 with steel production beginning there in 1865. Rail track was a major product.
Dowlais was already bringing ore for Spain and so there was great logic when expanding to build the plant adjoining the newly opened Roath Dock which would incorporate a dedicated wharf for handling the ore. Work on the site at East Moors started in 1888 and in February 1891, the plant was opened. By 1895 the fully opened facilities comprised 4 blast furnaces and plant for making pig iron and a steelworks and plate mill. The new plant specialised in making steel plates for use in shipbuilding.
After various amalgamations and name changes the company name became Guest Keen & Nettlefolds (GKN)
A major redevelopment of the East Moors site took place in the mid-1930’s. The old blast furnaces were retained but extensive new plant was added to increase both the pig-iron and ingot steel output. A mill for making steel rods was established for use in screws and nails production.
After WW2 the plant began to suffer from the limitations on the size of the site – further expansion was not possible. This brought about a gradual decline and the East Moors site was closed in 1978.
