Bickford's Fuseworks and Tuckingmill Factory Row

The miners’ "Safety Fuze"  was an innovation with global significance. Fuse manufacture was concentrated at the Tuckingmill factory in the triangle formed by Pendarves Street and Chapel Road. Much of this complex survives including the imposing granite façade and the model terraced workers’ housing.

Invented by William Bickford in 1831, was first manufactured in a building on the opposite side of the road from the present site, which was acquired from the Tuckingmill Foundry much later. The company underwent many changes of name and was registered as a limited liability company in 1888 when it became Bickford, Smith and Co. Ltd.
 

Safety fuse continued to be made here with numerous changes and alterations until July 1961. This company was the biggest British manufacturer of safety fuses and was taken over by Nobel Industries in 1921 and closed in 1962 .The works are largely extant; some parts are used as retail outlets, while other parts have recently lost their slate roof. A tin tablet set into the wall of the works commemorates William Bickford's invention.