| Richard
Hill had been manager of the Plymouth works for Anthony Bacon. On the death
of his iron master, he leased the works from Thomas Bacon.His aim was to
produce iron of the highest quality,and this he succeeded in doing so successfully
that the metal produced at Plymouth was considered to be the finest in South
Wales. He encouraged his workmen to take pride in their work, and their
welfare was one of his greatest concerns. In 1807 he erected new furnaces
at Pentrebach. He was always searching for highly skilled workmen who would
help him achieve his goal of producing the finest iron. When he died in
1818, his sons Richard and Anthony became the owners of the works. Anthony
was a keen scientist and pursued the policy adopted by his father. As a
result, the rails made at Plymouth always commanded a higher price than
those made elsewhere. The process for converting pig iron into malleable
iron, which was perfected by Bessemer, was partially developed by Anthony
Hill.The works increased in size and, to cope with the orders recieved,
new furnaces were erected at Plymouth, Duffryn and at Pentrebach. In 1844,
the year of his brother's death, difficulties connected with the use of
water power compelled Anthony Hill to introduce steam power.As an advocate
of education he founded a National School at Pentrebach, and set aside a
sum of money to enable needy children to recieve advanced education.Anthony
Hill died in 1862, and the works were purchased by Messrs. Fothergill, Hankey,
and Bateman. Beset with financial problems the Plymouth works were finally
closed in 1880. |