blast furnace fitter Merthyr, Sirhowy

[aalg]

can anyone give me information or direction regarding where someone with this occupation would have been likely to work in 1880 - 1910 and what they would be doing?

Thanks

[danuslave]

Google threw up this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blast_furnace

and various other references

Linda

[Tinker1950]

Hi
Please check this link below. The title Merthyr, Sirhowy is a little confusing as the towns were not that close for commuting on a daily basis for work in that era.

http://www.sirhowy.com/svironworks.html

The title of the job would suggest a slightly more mechanical involvement with the furnaces as opposed to someone priming with ores or drawaing off the metal and slag. Just guessing though.

Cheers

Tinker

[aalg]

Thank you both for your replies.

so sorry,Tinker for the confusing title. I was lax with my research which is why I was confused.

My ancestor actually lived in Dowlais not Merthyr ( Merthyr was the district) - I can now see that there was a Dowlais ironworks and a Sirhowy Ironworks. I guess he must have moved between the two during his working life.

The two ironworks appear to be positioned along the heads of the valley road from each other.