Hi Phil
I have got back to John Phillips, ( a blacksmith), b.abt.1792 Itton/Chepstow area, He married twice and had 11 children, all in the Chepstow/Itton area, 5 of his sons Edward b.1815, John b.1816, William b.1818 (my 3x gt. grandfather), James b.1822 and Charles b.1838. The oldest 4 came to Woolwich/Plumstead in the early 1840's and Charles joined them some time later (marrying William's wife's sister).
William was a blacksmith/metal worker at the Royal Arsenal. I'm afraid i don't know what a wire worker is, so don't know if they worked alongside blacksmiths.
There are many monmouthshire born people in the Woolwich/ Plumstead area, so there could vey well be other unrelated Phillips lines around.
I have not yet found John Phillips' baptism or even his first marriage details as i cannot get to monmouthshire to look at the parish records.
Which Phillips do you have in the area?
Regards
Barbarai