These WC imprinted bricks are at Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham. They are used in the walled garden to line flues that heated 18C green houses. Photo by Stephen Eastmead.
Origin not known - Carbrook is situated in the east end of Sheffield. Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.
Waddington & Wood, Tunstall, Staffs. They were the owners of Summerbank Tileries at Tunstall in 1897-98.
Photo by Nigel Furniss.
Photo by Ken Perkins.
Joseph A Wade, Hornsea Bridge, Hornsea, Hull. Found North Lincs. by Frank Lawson.
Wadsley Bridge Brick Co., Wadsley Bridge, Sheffield. Photo by David Kitching.
J.J. Wagstaff, Eastwood, Rochford, Essex is listed in Kellys 1899 to 1910 editions. Info & Photo by Martyn Fretwell.
I have not found G. Wain in any directories yet but a map of 1880 shows a disused brickyard at the corner of Ansty Lane and Fosse Road, now Blackbird Road. Photo and info by Dennis Gamble.
George Wain, Ansty Lane Brickworks, Leicester appears in the Commercial Gazette, 1880. Photo by Frank Lawson.
Waine and Hawthorne, Wellington Works, Willenhall. Kelly 1900. Photo by Angel Rose.
London Gazette, 12 June 1900.
NOTICE is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned, Isaac Waine and Edward Hawthorne, carrying on business as Brick Makers, at Noose-lane, Willenhall, in the county of Stafford, under the style or firm of Waine and Hawthorne, has been dissolved by mutual consent as and from the first day of June, 1900. All debts due to and owing by the said late firm will be received and paid by the said Isaac Waine. - Dated 7th day of June, 1900.
ISAAC WAINE.
EDWARD HAWTHORNE.
Made by Andrew Wain's Brickworks, Mill Lane, Heather, Ashby de la Zouch. Photo by Phil Burgoyne.
Photos by Martyn Fretwell.
Martyn Fretwell writes: Information from Kelly's Trade Directories. Andrew Wain (red), Mill Lane Works, Heather, Ashby de la Zouch 1881, 1891. Then listed as Andrew Wain (exors. of the late), Mill Lane Works, Heather, Ashby de la Zouch in the 1895, 99 & 1900 editions. Then Wains, Heather, Ashby de la Zouch 1908, 12 & 16. Then it became Heather Brick, Terra Cotta & Wain's Co. (Henry J. Ford proprietor), Heather, Ashby de la Zouch, 1925 & 28 editions.
Photo by Carwyn Tywyn.
Miniature sample. Photo by George Denny.
Found at West Bretton near Wakefield - maker unknown but it could have been any of the Wakefield brickworks. Photo by Frank Lawson.
Wakeley Bros were brickmakers at Rainham, Kent, from the middle of the 19th century. They had brickworks at Poot Lane in Upchurch and manufactured bricks, tiles and all manner of clay based products. They used their own bricks in the building of a very large Oast House, which was their main office established in 1897, right beside Rainham Railway Station. Info and photo by Margaret Francis.
John Wakerley is listed in Kelly's 1876 & 1881 editions at
Temperance Villa, Melton Mowbray, Leics. Photographed at Carwarden
Reclamation Yard by Martyn Fretwell.
Walbottle Coal & Firebrick Co., Newburn, Newcastle upon
Tyne.
The brickworks, situated by the Percy Pit at Newburn, would later
be associated with the red-shale 'Newburn' brand building brick,
but its early production was the staple firebrick, examples of
which still litter the former location to this day! Info by
Arthur Brickman, photos by Chris Tilney.
Photo by Juan Valdivia.
Made in a an earthenware and fire brick works at Waldridge near Chester-le-Street. This was established near "Jolliffe's New Houses" at some time before 1831 when Waldridge Colliery opened. Photo by Chris Tilney.
Photo by Steven Tait.
Photo by Mark Cranston.
Photo by Steven Tait.
Photo by Chris Tilney.
Derek Barker writes: By accident I recently stumbled on the works that produced these bricks in Milkwell Lane, Corbridge. Walkers apparently opened in the nineteenth century and closed in 1914. Today the site contains two beautiful bottle-kilns, the remains of Newcastle kilns and the remains of two down-draught kilns extensively vitrified, in addition to chimneys and ancillary buildings. Products such as housebricks, firebricks, tiles and sanitary tubes still litter the surrounding area. The bottle-kilns are grade II* listed structures and scheduled ancient monuments meaning that legally nothing must be removed from the site. Photo by Steven Tait.
Photo by Ian Suddaby.
It is possible that this is actually a Jameson product. Photo by Rachel Anne Smith.
In Kelly's this company is Ist recorded as Walker & Smith, Belle View, Halesowen in it's 1870 & 72 editions. Then in the 1876 edition just as William Walker, Belle View, Halesowen same as this brick. The 1884 edition now lists William Walker at Shelton, Halesowen & is followed in the 1888 & 92 editions as William Walker & Co. (blue & red), Shelton Brickworks, Halesowen. Photo by Colin Wooldridge from the John Cooksey Collection & Info by Martyn Fretwell.
William Walker is listed at Pannal in Kelly 1881 and at Oatlands Brickworks in Slater 1887. Henry J Walker is listed at Oatlands in 1893 and 1897 and at Spofforth Haggs in 1901 and 1904. info and image PRBCO. David Gamble adds: Oatlands Brickworks operated from 1867 to 1920 on a site in Hookstone Road now occupied by Oatlands Infants School and public playing fields
John Walker owned the Oak Farm Brickworks at Kingswinford in 1849. I have another reference to Chance & Co owning the same works also in 1849, so who came first I do not know, but the works was later taken over by Mobberley & Perry and they are recorded as still producing fire clay bricks there in 1982. Photo by Colin Wooldridge from the John Cooksey Collection & Info by Martyn Fretwell.
Photo by Luke Vaughan.
John Walker, Linthwaite, Huddersfield - Found in Linthwaite. Photo courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.
Not to be confused with the J W bricks found around Leeds - Jabez Woolley - this brick J W with wide, bold initials, was most likely made by John Walker and John Walker (exors of) at Linthwaite, Huddersfield, listed in Kelly, West Riding, 1881 to 1912. Found near Milnsbridge, with other identical examples seen at Farnley Tyas and Deighton - all in the Huddersfield area. Info and image PRBCO.
Found at Marsden. Photo by Chris Shaw.
Photos by Frank Lawson.
Photo by Jacky Wisdom.
Silecroft lies on the Cumbrian coast 4km NW of Millom. Image PRBCO.
Made in the Team Valley near Gateshead. Photo by Chris Tilney.
Front and back views shown. John Walker's brickworks was just off High Street in the Brownhills area of Tunstall & he is listed in Kelly's 1876 edition as J. Walker & Co, Brownhills, Burslem. Info by Martyn Fretwell.
Sylecroft in West Cumbria is now spelt Silecroft. Found on a wall at Boot, Eskdale. Photo and info by Dave Hughes.
Photo by Chris Graham.
London Gazette 5 July, 1853, partnership dissolved W Harriman and W Walker, Blaydon, Durham, fire-brick manufacturers. Watson Walker seems to have continued to manufacture firebricks for a while after splitting with Harriman as he is noted in a court case of 1855 as being a firebrick manufacturer. I think the works would be in the Blaydon area. Photo by Mike Graham.
Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.
This was a family run yard at the side of the Chesterfield Canal, thanks to Simon Patterson for the photo. The two bricks above were made by Cocking & Sons at their Walkeringham brickworks. The Cocking family later went on to open a new brickworks in Doncaster.
Martyn Fretwell writes :- During my research I have found that there were four brick yards/works in this village. The Walkeringham Brick Works consisted of 3 yards, one yard was owned by Thomas Cocking & then by his sons/son-in-law from 1876 to 1940. The chimney & remains of some of the buildings still stand at this yard. The other two yards which where on opposite banks of the Chesterfield Canal were first owned by John Cowling in 1853, then by his son William in 1861 & then after William's early death in 1871 aged 35 by his wife Maria. In 1880 Maria sold the old & new yards as two lots, one is thought to have been Charles Hill who is listed in Kelly's 1881 to 1891 editions & the other to F.M. Cousins. The Hill's yard had closed by 1946 but who had worked this yard until then is unknown & the Cousin's yard was last recorded on a 1900 OS map. The Fountain Hill Brick Works may have been owned by Aaron Cooper & he is listed in Kelly's 1876 to 1885 editions as brickmaker at Walkeringham. Who followed Aaron Cooper at this works is unknown & the works is last shown on a 1900 OS map.
Found in the River Tyne by Wayne Hardman. Mark Cranston has found that in 1888 there are references to the Messrs G and H Waller, Brickworks, Gordon Road, Byker, Newcastle. Photo by Chris Tilney who addsthat it appears that George William Waller, a one time World Champion Cyclist, went into a partnership with his brother Henry, as builders and it seems thast they also manufactured their own bricks.
John Junior Walley is recorded as a brickmaker at Normanton, Derby in Kelly's 1891 edition. Info & Photographed at Derby Silk Mill Museum by Martyn Fretwell.
In 1924 T. E. Walley Ltd. purchased the brick and tile works of John Nash Peake in Cemetery Road, Silverdale which were run as Rosemary Hill Tileries. G.H. Downing & Co. Ltd. bought the business in 1975 but this only lasted until 1981 when the works was sold to Steetley and then closed, with production transferred to Knutton. Photo and information by David Kitching.
Walley & Alsop, Knutton Tileries, Silverdale, Staffs. Kelly's Staffordshire Directory 1916. Info by Frank Lawson, photos by Martyn Fretwell.
Photo by Ken Perkins.
The Wall Grange brick and tile co. was situated in the Park Lane area of Wall Grange near Longsdon, Leek, Staffordshire. The yard was in operation from around 1890 until the 1950s. Also: Wall Grange Brick Co ( 1930 ) Ltd , Wall Grange, Cheddleton, Staffs, in Kelly Staffs 1932 & 1940. Info by Ken Perkins and Philip Rothery, photo by David Kitching.
Photo by Greg Julian.
Found in the West Midlands by Ray Martin.
Photo by Tim Lawton.
Photo by Iain Taylor.
Photo by Phil Burgoyne.
Photo by Chris Graham.
Photo by Ian Suddaby.
Wallsend & Hebburn Coal Co. Ltd., Rising Sun Colliery, Wallsend on Tyne. In 1908, the Wallsend and Hebburn Coal Company established a brickworks at Rising Sun Colliery, mainly to supply common bricks for the company’s own collieries. The bricks were fired in a 16-chamber Hoffman kiln, each chamber capable of holding 10,500 bricks. Photo and info by Frank Lawson.
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Photo by Chris Tilney.
Photo by Ray Martin.
Walsall Brick Co. Green Lane, Walsall, Kelly's 1900 edition. Info & Photographed at Four Oaks Reclamation Yard by Martyn Fretwell.
Walsall Wood Colliery was sunk in 1874 on a site close to the Daw End Canal just north of Coppice Road. A brickworks was established just to the north of the pit and a canal basin was constructed for brick traffic. There was a very large circular kiln (presumably continuous) with central chimney. The Earl of Bradford as mineral owner was paid a royalty of 1/- per 1000 bricks manufactured. The works is shown on the OS maps from just after the First World War but the site had been cleared by 1938. Photos and information by David Kitching.
Walton Quarry & Brick Co.Ltd. Walton Sidings, Entwistle, Bolton. Found in Entwistle thanks to Frank Lawson.
Photo by Phil Burgoyne.
Kelly's Durham Directory has Walton & Co as firebrick manufacturers at Marshall Green Colliery, Witton-le-Wear. The owner was J V Walton. Photo by Judith Wilkins who found the brick at Cornsay Colliery site.
Photo by Steven Tait.
Photo by Chris Tilney.
Richard Davies writes: I am told that Warbreck Hill Brick Works was on Warbreck Hill Road, Blackpool, Lanc's where Unity College is now (Previously Warbreck High) SD318382. I found the brick on some land off Staining Old Road at SD346372.
William Ward, Plastic Brick Works, Clark Lane, Leeds. This works is are listed in directories of the 1890's. Photos by Frank Lawson.
Photo by Kevin Moyles.
Thomas Ward & Co. are listed as running the Bowbridge Road brickworks in Balderton in the 1928 Kelly's Directory. Thomas Ward continues to be listed as brickmaking at the Balderton Works in Kelly's 1932 & 36 editions, Directory of Newark 1938 edition, then Kelly's 1941 edition. This is actually Thomas W. Ward Ltd. of Sheffield a business which bought the Vale of Belvoir Brick and Plaster Works, Newark upon Trent by 1928, which incuded the Balderton brickworks. Info by Martyn Fretwell, photo by Angus Townley.
Found no entries for H.E. Ward & Co. in trade directories, but I have found in Kellys 1869 edition
that Mrs. Sophia Ward is listed at Needham Market, Suffolk & this lady may have been H.E. Ward’s
wife, taking over his works after his death ? Then Kellys 1874 & 1875 editions list William H. Ward
brickmaking at Needham Market. Photo & Info by Martyn Fretwell.
Kelly's Directory of Staffordshire for 1896 and 1900 has Isaac Ward & Sons at The Old Wharf, Uttoxeter adjacent to the former canal terminus. In 1901 there were three circular kilns on site. Photo by Nigel Furniss.
E. Ward is listed at St. Peter's Hill, Stamford in Kellys 1868 edition & this will have been his home or office address with it being in the centre of Stamford. A brickworks is shown on the later 1885 map situated off Casterton Road & this may have been his works. Thomas Turner is recorded at this works in 1889 & 1896 followed by Towers & Williamson in 1905 & 1909. Info & Photo by Martyn Fretwell courtesy of the Bill Richardson Collection at Southwick Hall.
Wards Improved, photo by Mark Cranston.
The Warmfield Co. Ltd., St. John's Brickyard, Newland Park, Normanton, West Yorks. The Warmfield Company owned the Newland Estate and operated the brickworks until the mid 20th Century. Photos & info by Frank Lawson.
Found near Rotherham by Bob Gellatly.
Photo by Jason Stott.
Jeremiah Warner appears in trade directories at Trent Vale, Staffordshire, manufacturing blue bricks and tiles, from 1867 - 1880. Various members of the Warner family are listed at Trent Vale previous to that, starting in 1835.
J Warner, Mickleover, Derby. Kelly's Derbyshire Directory 1912. Photo courtesy of Derby Museums. Info by frank Lawson.
Spotted in Brighton by Simon Patterson, made by the Sussex and Dorking United Brick Company, Horsham. Now part of Redland Bricks.
Additional info and photo by Martyn Fretwell: Warnham Brickworks, Horsham, Sussex. Still in production today. it is now part of the Wienerberger Group, which includes Baggeridge Bricks. The Group operates 229 plants in 27 countries.
Photo by courtesy of the Richard Symonds collection.
Photo by Annabel Rose.
Photo by Dan Gregory.
Simon Patterson photographed this one at Avoncroft Museum.
Samuel Warr is listed at Cradley in Jones’ 1865 edition through to Kelly’s 1876 edition. Photo & Info by Martyn Fretwell.
Photo by John Pease who took it in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. It is quite possible that the brick arrived there as ships ballast.
Henry
Warrington, 1838-1907, was born at Cheadle, left school in 1851 to
work for William Bowers at Berry Hill and succeeded Bowers in
operating the ironworks, colliery and associated brickworks on his death in
1880. Warrington employed 1000 men, farmed 400 acres
and lived at Fenton Manor House. He shot himself on the 2nd March
1907. In 1891 Henry Warrington & Son Ltd was formed when Henry's son Henry James Warrington was taken into partnership. The ironworks closed in 1907 and the colliery and brickworks were in bankruptcy in 1918. The businesses were then purchased by John Slater and operated under his name. Info and photos by David Kitching.
Photo by David Fox.
Started by James Washbourne at Cockshutts Lane, Wolverhampton,
this works is listed in Kelly's 1908 & 12 editions. Ernest
Washbourne is next listed at the works in the 1916 edition, followed
in the 1921 & 28 editions by William Ernest Washborne. The
Company is next listed in Kelly's 1932 edition at nearby Parkfield
Road as W.E. Washbourne & Co. Premier Brickworks, Parkfield
Road, Wolverhampton. In the 1936 & 1940 editions the Works is
listed as Washbourne & Co & when the Company went into
Liquidation on 5th April 1940 it was owned by Charles Oliver &
Sidney Rawlings. Photo by Colin Wooldridge from the John Cooksey
Collection & Info by Martyn Fretwell.
Photo by David KItching.
Washington, County Durham.
A typical North East colliery common brick, produced at the Washington 'F' Pit, and used in the main for the building of internal walls. The 'new' brickworks was started in the late 1920's and lasted until 1970, this example probably dating to the post-nationalisation period. Today, the site is an open green space at the heart of the New Town, but the original colliery winding house remains, and is open on occasion, housing a display of local mining memorabilia. Info by Arthur Brickman, photo by Chris Tilney.
The Wasp Nest Brick Company was situated in the Ashgate area on the west side of Chesterfield. Malcolm Adlington adds: An ancestor of mine was Master Brickmaker at Wasp Nest, Brampton, Chesterfield. I believe the works opened in around 1838.
Photo by Frank Lawson.
Photo by David Kitching.
The Waterhead Land Co was formed in 1889 with a capital of £4,000 in £4 shares. It was primarily a property development business but it also owned the Newhey brickworks at Rochdale until it was sold to an Oldham syndicate in 1897 for £2,499. The works used Whittaker's and Fawcett's brickmaking machinery. Photos by David Kitching.
Photos by Frank Lawson.
Photos by Jason Stott.
Recovered from the Ferrybridge Pottery in Yorkshire by Alan Tomlinson.
Frank Waters is listed in Kelly's 1879 edition at Grafton House, Causeway, Cambridge. Info and photo by Martyn Fretwell.
Photo by David Kitching.
Photo by David Kitching.
Photo by David Fox.
John Watkinson produced firebricks at his works at Nether Loads near Chesterfield between 1850 & 1870. John is recorded in Kelly's 1864 edition as J. Watkinson, Nether Loads, Brampton, Chesterfield. Info & photographed at Chesterfield Museum by Martyn Fretwell.
Watnall Colliery, Notts. was sunk in 1873 by Barber Walker & Co. of Eastwood who owned several other collieries in Notts, Derbys & South Yorks. An associated brickworks is shown next to the colliery on the 1875 map. In 1923 the brickworks consisted of two 18 chambered Manchester type kilns & by 1934 two Staffordshire type kilns had been added resulting in the works producing 16 million bricks per year. These bricks were made from the clay shale mined at the colliery. Both the colliery & brickworks were Nationalised in 1947. The colliery closed in 1950, but with vast stocks of clay & coal being stock piled, the brickworks remained operational until 1975. The buildings were then demolished, but the four chimney's where left standing. These iconic chimney's stood alongside the M1 until 2009 & as a result of people removing bricks from their bases they were deemed to be unsafe & were duly demolished. Photo & Info by Martyn Fretwell. Photos of chimneys on Photo Gallery page
Photo by Frank Lawson.
Shidlaw Tile Works, Nr Carham, Northumberland, England. The works were 100 yards on the English side of the border situated on the Kelso Branch Railway and approximately 1 mile from Hadden Farm in Scotland. They are approximately 1/2" from Carham Railway Station. The clay pit appears to have been worked right up to the Scottish English border.
By December 1847 the Shidlaw Tileworks had been established - then owned by Messrs Brown. The 1860 OS map shows a decent range of drying sheds, kilns etc on site. R & J Watson were proprietors for a number of years and certainly from Nov 1883 when they advertised bricks and draining pipes for sale. The works are not represented on the 1896 map and appear to have closed c.1890.
Photo and info by Mark Cranston.
G L Watson, Hunwick Station, Durham. Photo by Chris Tilney.
H W Watson, Colt Park, Ebchester, Co.Durham. H.W.Watson is recorded as being the owner of Hamsterley Colliery from around 1860 until around 1910 when it became the property of The Hamsterley Colliery Co. The colliery produced both coal & fireclay. Photos by Chris Tilney.
George Watson of Alfred Street, Ripley is recorded in Kelly's Directory for 1888 and 1891. Info by Martyn Fretwell, photo by Frank Lawson.
The lease for the Langsett Road Brick Works, Sheffield was taken by Henry George Watson around 1888 and his brother John Albert Watson was managing the works from July 1888. The business traded as Watson Brothers with John Albert taking the lease in his own name in July 1894. By February 1895 he was bankrupt and the works closed. Photo by Frank Lawson.
John Wilson Watson & Co., Bridge End, Stockton on Tees, Co.Durham (office) - Kelly's Durham Directory 1890. John Wilson Watson (exors of) - Haverton Hill Brickworks, Haverton Hill, Middlesborough - Kelly's Durham Directory 1914. Photo by Tony Gray.
Photo by Chris Tilney.
Photo by Mike Graham.
Watts & Sons, Newmarket, Road, Cambridge are listed in Kelly's 1896, 1904 & 1916 editions. The company is also recorded in a 1923 article held at the National Archives in Cambridge. A 1900 OS map of the Newmarket Road area of Cambridge at Barnwell Junction shows seven brickworks in operation & today this vast area is covered mainly in retail parks & industrial units. Info & Photo by Martyn Fretwell.
Photo by Ian Suddaby.
Photos by Frank Lawson.
Made in the Horsham area and now part of Redland Bricks, thanks to Richard Symonds.
Photo by Martyn Fretwell, found in Dungeness, Kent.
Photo by Richard Symonds.
Photos by Chris Tilney.
Chris Tilney found this one at Wolsingham. Reid's Handy Colliery Guide and Directory for the Counties of Northumberland & Durham for 1906 and 1911 lists the Wear Valley Coal and Brick Co at Marshall Green Colliery, Witton-le-Wear.
Found at Frosterley by Gavin Brett.
The letters N W D A are the initials of Nathaniel William Dobeson Alexander (trading as "The Wear Valley Colliery and Brick Works"), 11th February 1905. The Wear Valley Colliery and Brick Works was more generally known as Marshall Green Colliery, Witton-le-Wear. In March 1904 Marshall Green Colliery for sale by auction, this is probably when Nathaniel Alexander bought the 21yr lease from 1 Jan 1902. In 1909 the lease was sold again, this time to Mr George Bradford of Darlington. I strongly suspect that Nathaniel Alexander emigrated to the United States after giving up the colliery and brickworks. In 1923 the works were run by the Witton Firebrick Company. Pease & Partners Ltd ran the business in the 1930s and it later transferred to Livingston Refractories Ltd, 2nd May 1938.
Photo by Chris Tilney.
Photo by Steven Tait.
John Webb ran the Hill Top brickyard, Castle Donington between 1841 & 1881 & he is listed in Kelly's 1876 & 1881 editions. Photo & Info by Martyn Fretwell.
Photo by Dave Crewe.
In the 1911 trade directory Webber and Stedham, Market Street and Newton Road. In 1929 the company was wound up voluntary and sold to Western Counties Brick Company Limited. Photos by Ian Williams.
Thanks to Amanda Slater for the use of the photos.
Photos by David Kitching.
One of several brickworks in the Foleshill area of Coventry. Hoffman kiln was coal fired, then oil and finally gas, Works was taken over by Hemmings with the site closed and sold off in 1998. The last chimney was demolished in 2016. More details available in Historic Coventry Forum. Brick obtained from house renovations at near Mere Green, Sutton Coldfield. Photo and info by Ray Martin.
Photo by Liz Robinson.
Webster & Co (Sheffield) Ltd., Marriott Wood Brick Works, Archer Road, Sheffield. Kelly's Sheffield Directory 1923/1935. Info by Frank Lawson, photo by David Kitching.
Photo by Frank Lawson.
In 1938 Roger Hemming took over Webster’s Stoney Stanton Road brickworks after they had closed down & he named his company Webster, Hemmings & Sons. This new company is listed in Kelly’s 1940 edition. The works closed around 1997/8. Roger Hemming died in 2008 aged 80 & was from the same Hemming brickmaking family who for nearly 200 years had made bricks in the Birmingham / Coventry area. Photo & Info by Martyn Fretwell.
John Grey Weir, Westoe Lane, South Shields - Kelly's Directory, 1890. Photo by Chris Tilney.
Photo by David Kitching.
Welbeck Brickworks was originally owned by the New Hucknall & Blackwell Collieries Limited. and was located at the side of the colliery. The works was supplied by the colliery with clay shale, coal as well as electricity, steam and water. Brick making commenced at Welbeck in 1926/7 using a Hoffmann 20 chamber type kiln which produced 4,600 bricks per hour. A second 18 chamber Hoffmann kiln was added in 1934 & production rose to 12 million bricks per year. In 1947 the colliery and brickworks became part of N.C.B. By 1967/68 the works was producing 10.4 million bricks a year. It was in this year that ownership was transferred to the Midland Brick Company. The brickworks finally passed out of the control of the N.C.B. in 1973 with its assets being sold to Butterley Building Materials Limited who closed it in 1975. Information by mark Smith and photo by Nigel Mack.
There is a brick and tile works marked on the 1886 OS map just to the east of Ditcheat village in Somerset. The only reference I can find is to a W Welsh making bricks at Ditcheat in the Kelly's directory for 1861.
The listing for this works is Weldon & Corby Brickworks,
J.Pain, Managing Director, Corby in Kellys 1903 edition. Then in
Kellys 1906, 10 & 14 editions it is the Weldon & Corby
Patent Brick Co. Ltd., Corby. Info & Photos by Martyn Fretwell.
Photos by Frank Lawson.
George believes this was the trademark for the South Benwell Brickworks near Newcastle on Tyne. Photos by Chris Tilney.
The Well Fire Company was registered in June 1897. In 1903 there were offices in Newcastle-on-Tyne, Edinburgh, London and Liverpool, warehouse John Dalton St, Manchester The last reference I can find is 1933. This miniature glazed brick was manufactured on contract for the company which manufactured fireplaces. Some examples seem to have been manufactured by J C Edwards at Ruabon. Seen at Wakefield Museum store and photographed by Ian Townend.
Found on Crosby beach, Merseyside by Colin Driver.
The Wellingboro Brick & Tile Company was formed before 1877 and had become a limited company by 1885. By 1887, a large circular Hoffman kiln, & small downdraught are shown on the south side of Northampton Road, Wellingborough. together with extensive tramways in the pits to the west. The business Probably ceased work by First World War. The Directory of Clayworkers lists them as making plain & moulded bricks, drain
tiles, etc. Photo by Nigel Furniss.
The Mitcheldean Stone and Brick Works (M W. Colchester Wemyss with J. Miller Carr as manager) were opened in 1882. At its peak, the works employed some 70 people who, besides producing building-stone and bricks (facing and moulded), made urns, bowls, tiles, drain-pipes, flower pots, garden vases, rustic stumps, pitchers, and architectural and fine art terra-cotta. There were three kilns, each capable of holding 65,000 bricks. In 1900 the Wilderness Brick and Stone Co Ltd (Mitcheldean) was acquired by the Forest of Dean Stone Firms Ltd. The works closed c1907. Photo and information by David Kitching.
Wengers Ltd was a supplier of materials to the Pottery industry, particularly colours and glazes. The business was founded by Swiss citizen Albert Francis Wenger whoe family moved to Stoke-on-Trent in the 1860s. He became a naturalised British citizen in 1893. The Potteries, Newcastle & District Directory for 1912 lists Wengers Ltd as brickmakers at Etruria. I doubt the company actually manufactured bricks but may have sourced firebricks for the pottery industry with their initials on. Seen at Middleport Pottery. Photo by David Kitching.
Photo by Aron Bowers.
Found at Alfreton. Photo by Frank Lawson.
The owner of this brick has got it as Miss Margaret. Wenn, Ingham,
Norfolk, but from the Norfolk directories I have
only found a Herbert Wenn at The Grange, Ingham as brickmaker in
Kellys 1904 edition. Margaret was his daughter. Info & Photo by Martyn Fretwell.
Mark Cranston has found more information from the newspapers.
A WOMAN BRICKMAKER. From the Daily Express 01/03/1929 we learn that Miss Margaret Wenn, of Crossways Farm, Ingham, who was married last week, carries on the ancient craft of hand brickmaking. When her father died, a year or so ago, the old brickyard in a corner of his farm had fallen on bad times owing to the competition of machinery. Miss Wenn was driven to turn her attention to brick' making, and became an expert. Then she turned her attention to sales, and motored with samples to local builders and architects, who welcomed her fine handmade bricks. Her business is now flourishing, with an output of about 500,000 bricks a year. Miss Wenn will continue this business after marriage, and will live with her husband in her own house at the edge of the farm.
A product of the Werrar brickyard on the Isle of Wight which was operated by the Flux family. Photo by Wayne Richardson.
This example may have been made at a works in Pinhoe, Exeter. Photo by Lois Wakeman.
Photo by Chris Shaw.
Photos by Ian Williams.
Found in the bed of the River Wear near Sunderland.
Found to the west of Newcastle-on-Tyne. Photo by Steven Tait.
The West Cannock Colliery Company leased the mines and clay from the Marquis of Anglesey. The royalty on bricks was 2/6d per 1000. The brickworks was adjacent to the No.1 colliery which commmenced operations in 1869. Bricks were produced only for the company's use and were never sold outside. By the 1920's production was only undertaken if outside sources were more expensive than the home made bricks. The plant comprised: A Wooton Brothers brick making machine capable of producing 28,000 common bricks per week. A Lancashire boiler which powered a single cylinder steam engine for the brick making machine. Two square kilns of 28,000 and 25,000 brick capacity. In 1928 the plant produced 422,993 bricks but in 1930 it was only 43,000 bricks and the plant then closed. Photo and information by David Kitching.
West Denton Colliery was situated north of the Tyne between Lemington and Scotswood. Photos by Chris Tilney.
Photo by Steven Tait.
West End Park Co, Pannal, Harrogate list in Post Office Directory of 1877, info and image PRBCO.
The brickworks associated with this colliery was situated a short distance from the pit, next to the Nutbrook Canal & had been built on the site of the former West Hallam Iron Works. The colliery was operational by 1893 & the brickworks is shown on the 1900 OS map. The brickworks may have closed by 1912 as it is not shown on the 1913 map. Info & Photographed at Erewash Museum, Ilkeston by Martyn Fretwell.
Both faces of a brick from one of the 19th works in West Hartlepool. The most likely works is that of Cammis and Tulip which is listed in 1879 at Long Hill, Seaton Carew, West Hartlepool. Photos by Mike Graham.
In late 1900 the West Hartlepool Patent Brick Company was founded byJohn Burn at Longhill, West Hartlepool. In 1902 it was converted to a limited company. 1904 saw the company in receivership and offered for sale. In September 1907 the company was advertising for Setters and Drawers but I can find no references thereafter. Photo by Neil Ramsden.
These two bricks were found on Teesside and may well be West Hartlepool Patent Brick Company products. Photos by Chris Tilney.
Westgate Brick Co Ltd, Dewsbury Road, Wakefield - Kelly's Directory for Yorkshire, 1927. Photo by Lyn Bostock.
Photos by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.
Photo by Simon Patterson.
Firebrick made at West Hunwick Colliery near Durham. Photo and info by Solway Past.
Photo by Chris Tilney.
Photographed in Durham by Steven Tait.
Photo by Liz Robinson.
This special 'Hunnex' silica brick was developed in the 1950s by especially for use in Open Hearth furnace crowns. It describes the brick as being low alumina, low porosity with low permeability to gases. 'West Hunwick' was bought by J T Price in 1961 and as the merged company, Price-Pearson, was bought by J&J Dyson in 1968.Part of the Dyson Group (Dyson Technical Ceramics) including the West Hunwick works has now been sold to a US company for £3.2m on 3rd July 2017. Photo and info by Mark Cranston.
It seems that The Westfield Brick Company occupied a site on Wakefield Road, Normanton, W.Yorks from approx. 1901 - 1922. The same site was previously owned by Wilson & Kirk and was later owned by the Normanton Brick Co. Photo by Russ Firth and info by Chris Shaw.
Made by Hill, Westlake Works, Drakewalls, nr Chilsworthy SX418719. Photo by David Kitching, part of the collection at Wheal Martyn China Clay Museum.
Thomas Westlake, Bealeswood Brickworks, Gunnislake SX418719. Photo by David Kitching, part of the collection at Wheal Martyn China Clay Museum.
Nottingham Dail Express, 15 July, 1905. Partnership dissolved - Henry Faulkner, John Healey, and Joseph C Healey, carrying on business as the West Leicester Brick Company, at Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire, brick manufacturers. The firm was in business around 1900 and was listed in Kelly's directory for 1903. The 1901 surveyed OS map shows the works with three circular kilns adjacent to the railway at Kirby Park whilst the 1914 map shows the premises as the Alexandra Concrete Works. Photo by Dennis Gamble.
Photo by Ken Perkins.
Weston Coyney is east of Longton in North Staffordshire. Weston Coyney Tilery seems to have been the first business on the site situated just to the east of the woodland known as The Sprink. It was already working in 1853. This was followed by Weston Coyney Brick and Marl Co. This company first appears in the trade directories in 1888 and was still working in 1928 but does not appear subsequently. In 1919 the company was paying Walter Weston Coyney £25 per annum rental on the land and premises. Photos by David Kitching.
Nigel Furniss found this rarity near Northampton and writes: There is known to have been a brickworks here at Buttocks Booth near Northampton in 1835. Disused by 1883 and laid dormant until shortly after WW1, when A. Glenn & Son opened the works here under the name W F B & T Co. Closed in 1941, very little is known about the works except that it had a narrow gauge tramway in the clay pit. Old maps of the area show the works in 1924 and 1938.
West Melton Brickworks, Firth Road, West Melton, Rotherham. The 1901 6 inch OS map shows two brickworks in West Melton, the West Melton Brickworks on Firth Road and the Melton Field Fireclay Works close to it. I suspect that they were both associated with the nearby colliery. Photos and info by Frank Lawson.
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