Matthew Wayne founded the Gadlys Ironworks in 1827. Iron was produced on this site until 1876.

The works casting house originally stood at the front of the site. A wagon repair shop built between 1876 and 1897 replaced this. This building with grade II listing was renovated 1995 and now houses the Cynon Valley Museum & Gallery. Behind this are the impressive remains of the sites four blast furnaces built which were built between 1827 and 1856. Today these are a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Currently there is no public access to the furnaces.

At the far end of the site stands the 1857 blowing-engine house. Making this site one of the most compact and complete sites in South Wales.