He rose from humble beginnings as a carpenter to have a major influence on ironworks at Cyfartha and Pontypool and is responsible for the design of early cast-iron bridges.
The works expanded over the next few years, developing Henry Cort's puddling process, to become the largest ironworks in the world by 1806.
[1][2] During this period Watkin George also constructed or designed Pont-y-Cafnau (1792-93 - an iron tramway bridge and aqueduct), Gwynne water aqueduct (1793-96 - a timber trestle structure 185m long, part of which ran over Pont-y-Cafnau), Melingriffith water pump[a] (1793-1795), Aeolus waterwheel (1793-97 - a 50 ft diameter cast iron waterwheel), the Merthyr Bridge (1799-1800 - a single shallow arch of cast iron), and Ynysfach Ironworks (1801 - the two blast furnaces bore his initials).
[1] After George left Cyfartha he was described later (1807) as having ..."lately quitted the concern with from thirty to forty thousand pounds in his pocket.
"[6] The partnership with Capel Hanbury Leigh at Pontypool proved successful and after the first two years George received £8,300 in profits.