Morriston was originally ‘a planned industrial village’. It was the idea of the industrialist Robert Morris. During 1768–74, he built his workers flats, known as Morris Castle or Castell Craig. In 1869, The Red Lion was trading on Clydach Road, later renamed Sway Road. It must have been frequented by the brick-makers from the Morriston Silica Brick Company works which stood opposite the public house, on the site of the fire station.
Text about the history or Morriston and tinplate.
The text reads: Morriston was initially constructed for the workers of the tinplate and copper industries that built up along the banks of the River Tawe in the 18th century.
Tinplate was consumed in enormous quantities especially for the manufacture of tin cans which preserved food, cigarettes and fuel.
When offset lithography appeared in the 1870s, tinplate could be colour-printed, decorated tin boxes were popular with biscuit makers and tea companies and their demands for ever more ornate containers lead to the development of the pressed tinplate signage and toy industries.
Equipment that would have been used for cutting tinplate.
A grand tree sculpture.
External photograph of the building – main entrance.
If you have information on the history of this pub, then we’d like you to share it with us. Please e-mail all information to: pubhistories@jdwetherspoon.co.uk