Swansea’s Penderyn visitor attraction taking shape

WORK progresses on the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks site that’s due to become a new visitor attraction for Penderyn Whisky this year. Construction began in summer 2020 and is part of the city’s £1bn regeneration programme that will help see Swansea lead the way out of pandemic.

The work has been made possible thanks to a £3.75m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales.

The council scheme will bring new life to the historic site’s powerhouse and outbuildings. A distillery will add to the Wales-based company’s existing facilities.

Main contractor John Weaver Contractors, based in Swansea, has forged ahead with work in line with government restrictions throughout the pandemic.

Fellow Welsh firm Hayes Engineering & Cladding has fabricated – and is putting up – the steel framework that will recreate the powerhouse’s original clock tower.

The shell of a new-build Penderyn visitor centre is up. A walkway will link this to part of the site’s historic rolling mill, where Penderyn will have a barrel store.

Council leader Rob Stewart, pictured recently with officer Paul Relf, said:

“It’s great to see the restoration of this historic site leading the regeneration of the lower River Tawe corridor. It’s a demonstration of how seriously we take protecting our heritage for future generations.”

Penderyn Whisky operating officer Neil Quigley said:

“We’re pleased to be making progress on this exciting project that will provide us with essential additional distilling capacity as well as a brand new modern and contemporary visitor facility to complement our distilleries in the Brecon Beacons and Llandudno in North Wales.”

The council secured the National Lottery Heritage Fund grant for the expansive Hafod-Morfa site’s transformation work, with additional works to other historical buildings in the vicinity supported by Welsh Government Regeneration funding.