A Great Day

The most modern, integrated steel works in Europe are at Llanwern, Newport, and they are opened on this “great day” (26/10/1962) by the Queen who is visiting with Prince Philip.

26/10/1962: The Queen, opening Richard Thomas and Baldwins’ new Spencer Works at Llanwern, Newport, is “greatly impressed” by what she sees: tipplers, stacker, coke ovens, quenching tower and blast furnaces. 40 miles of hedgerow have been sacrificed, replaced by 39 miles of railway track and 27 miles of road but, as RTB’s Chair points out, despite the destruction and construction (involving 10 million bricks), ducks and swans are still present at ponds on site.