Metal working at Tintern meant that given their was water transport/power available and a ready supply of Dean charcoal and coal at hand, copper smelting was tried. By 1691 Redbrook was in production and had 26 furnaces at the upper works and a further 16 at the lower works. All British demand was being dealt with from here by 1698 plus exports to Holland. Ore came via Chepstow from St.ives, in 1697 some 986Tons being processed. The site ceased smelting by 1735 when Neath and Swansea furnaces became established receiving the Cornish Copper ore and sending return loads of coal.