Welcome to Pontypool Museum

Welcome to Pontypool Museum: "In 1697, Major John Hanbury of Pontypool�s ironmaster family, developed a rolling mill for producing thin iron sheet and his Pontypool Works then proceeded to undertake the first commercial production of tinplate in Britain. By 1732, it is recorded that one of the Hanbury family employees, Thomas Allgood had invented a new way of japanning the tinplate. The manufactory was in a small cottage at Trosnant and employed only the Allgoods who kept the process a secret. In 1761, after a quarrel the family split up and some set up a rival factory in Usk, 10 miles distant."