Coast & Countryside

History of Llanelli’s Coastline

By the end of the 19th Century, Llanelli was known as the tinplate manufacturing capital of the world, producing 50 per cent of the world’s supply of tinplate.

Llanelli and its coastline exploded into life during the Industrial Revolution. During this time the town grew from a small village into a bustling hub of industry and the tall chimneys of steel, copper and tin works dominated the north Loughor Estuary skyline.

A string of factories, power stations, mills, mines and other works sprang up earning Llanelli the nicknames 'Tinopolis' and 'Sospan' as saucepans were one of the town’s major exports.

The heavy industry took its toll on the town’s landscape but Llanelli’s economic might was such that the townsfolk were more than happy to put up with it because of the town’s prosperity.

Today there is just one echo of Llanelli’s industrial past remains - the works at Trostre which continues the tinplate tradition.