Upper Bank to White Rock Rising Main, Swansea

From February to March 2013 Oxford Archaeology undertook a watching brief on
the excavation of a pipe trench for a new rising main within the area of the former
Middle Bank and White Rock smelting works, Swansea. The work was undertaken
on behalf of Barratt Homes (South Wales), and was partly located within the eastern
boundary of the White Rock Scheduled Monument. The majority of the pipe trench
was excavated into post industrial period disturbed and made ground. Where
structures were encountered, interpretation of these was restricted by the limited
exposure of the remains. However, the upper courses of several walls were
recorded that are likely to relate to the boundaries, and buildings within the former
Middle Bank works. A firebrick structure, probably representing part of a copper
working furnace, was encountered within a building of the Middle Bank works in
proximity to a brick floor. In addition a possible buttress or ramp for the inclined
track to the secondary waste tips up hill to the east of the White Rock Works was
encountered and recorded