Rushden Research Group: Brickmaking

Brickmaking


Samples of the bricks

The clay type used for making bricks in Rushden came from the upper lias strata.

In the 1851 Census Jeremiah Litchfield and Thomas Hardwick were recorded as brickmakers.

From 1864 to about 1884 Robert Octavius Butcher was operating a small brick yard with a single kiln. In the trade directories he is recorded as a grocer and brickmaker.

In the Oak Pits (allotment) field near the second hill is where the brickworks used to be, and soon after passing the Wymington turn we come to where the old “Salt-box” stood on the left of the turnpike, near the north corner of the road to Newton. The toll-gate was called “Park-Leys side gate” and Benjamin Pettitt was keeper in 1821.

Extract from the notes books of J E Smith NRO Ref: 285P/272-301

Wellingborough News, 8th April 1892, transcribed by Kay Collins

WANTED, half-a-dozen Slop Brickmakers.—Apply to E. WILLIAMSON,
Finedon-road, Wellingborough; or Bedford-road, Rushden.

By 1894 the Rushden Brick & Tile Company was founded by John Clark, and was using a continuous kiln. The clay was taken from a pit to the south of the works and the whole site was served by a tramway system. The site was 116 acres and had a sand pit to the east. During the 1890's they were working at full capacity to keep the builders supplied as several new streets were being built.

Extract from a Council meeting report in Rushden Argus, 1^st July 1898

Plans: The Rushden Brick and Tile Co. for new brick works on the Wellingborough-road and passed subject to alteration.

Extract from an article in the Rushden Echo - 15th June 1900

The lightning did serious damage to the works of the Rushden Brick and Tile Co. The lightning struck a Woolf drier which had lately been erected and completely destroyed it. The office near was also struck, and the roof was taken completely off the building, leaving nothing but the bare walls. Serious injury was also done to the engine-house. The attention of the foreman, Mr. A. Clarke, was called to the matter, and upon examination it was thought that the lightning struck two of the iron ropes that pull the cars up from the clay pits. The damage is estimated at about £300, and is covered by insurance. A number of men have been thrown out of work through the occurrence, and it will probably be some weeks before the matter is put right.

click here to read more about the storms

1901 map with site tramway and the siding joining the main railway track.

Rushden Echo, 5^th September 1924, transcribed by Kay Collins

Wembley—The employees of the Rushden Brick and Tile Company on Saturday had an outing to Wembley Exhibition, a large party journeying thence by three motor charabancs supplied by Mr G Robinson, of Rushden. Starting about seven o’clock, the forward journey was made via St. Albans, where a halt was made. Wembley was reached about 11a.m., and the party spent a very enjoyable time at the exhibition. Some of the trippers visited London at night. On the journey back a stop was made at High Barnet. The company made a very welcome contribution towards the outing.

Courtesy of the late Colin Bryant's Collection by kind permission of Rushden Museum

Two views of the deep clay pit and wind pump - it was filled in by Messrs. Braybrook in the 1960s

John Clark and his daughter atop the last brick kiln at the brickworks

Rushden Brick & Tile Co location, shown on an Ordnance Survey map of 1927

Rushden Brickworks and tramway, shown on a map of 1927
John Clark lived at Heatherbreea House

A 1933 letterhead

Directors were: F W Beedle, T H Partridge, Chas E Gillot

Barry Postle's father's business card.

aerial view of the site of the new factory

Aerial View of the first phase of the Cox & Wright site. Situated at the junction of the old A45 and Wellingborough Road and showing the lake where sand had been extracted.
The pit was filled in in the 1960s by Messrs. Braybrook hauliers.
Centre of the picture is Nene Valley Caravan works. c1958

click here to read about another fire in 1908

1941 Rushden Brick & Tile Works Sale