The society's first project was a study of the Penllwyn tramroad or John Jones's tramroad, which ran from the Sirhowy tramroad at Nine Mile Point , crossing the Sirhowy river by a fine viaduct and up the east side of the Sirhowy Valley, to collieries of John Jones's llanarth Estate near Blackwood. Our study and history of the tramroad won second prize in the South Wales Argus local history competition in 1971.

Pictured above is the tramroad viaduct across the Sirhowy River, near Wattsville. It is built of stone, with a later brick lining added in the early 1900's when the viaduct was used by the LNWR during the construction of the Nine Mile Point Colliery.

The tramroad embankment leading from the viaduct, almost hidden in the trees, across the valley.

The society's next project, in 1973, was the excavation of the furnace at the site of the Rudry Ironworks. Started by Christopher Pope of Bristol in 1828, the furnace had a short life and ceased work in 1834. Pope, who controlled most of Bristol's brass industry at the time, was declared bankrupt in 1831, and his assignees attempted to work the furnace for a few more years.The blast engine and other materials were salvaged and the buildings were abandoned. By the 1930's, all structures had been demolished. The remains have been covered and cannot be viewed, but have been listed as an Ancient Monument.

Rudry Furnace from the top of the charging bank. The furnace was of a typical early 19th century design, a free-standing tapered square tower constructed of local pennant sandstone, with four arches, that furthest away the tymp arch for tapping the iron and slag, and three for the admittance of the cold air-blast pipes.

In 1974, the society, in conjunction with members of the South Wales branch of The Inland Waterways Association, began its longest project, the restoration of the Melingriffith water pump in Whitchurch, Cardiff. Water was taken from the River Taff at Radyr weir to provide water power at the Melingriffith tinplate works. Following many arguments between the Melingriffith Company and the Glamorganshire Canal Company over the supply of water, the pump was built in 1807 by the engineer Rennie to pump water from the work's tail race into the canal below Melingriffith lock. When the canal was finally shut, the pump was abandoned and the canal filled in. Although a listed ancient monument, the structure was on the point of collapse until saved by the society. The society won a Prince of Wales's award for its work on the pump. Supported by the Prince of Wales Trust and the WDA, many thousands of pounds have been spent on restoring the pump and constructing a new water course when the original feeder disappeared under a new housing development on the site of the works. As yet, the City of Cardiff appears to show little interest in the future of this historic monument. Pictured here is the Melingriffith water pump as it appeared in 1974, overgrown, neglected and decaying.