In 1890 Thomas Dodd owned a brickyard between Bletchley and Newton Longville; in 1925 this was taken over by the London Brick Company. Nearby, there was also a brickyard in 1933 at Skew Bridge, owned by Mr A. Lamb, it was later purchased by the London Brick Company in 1950 and renamed the Jubilee Works.
Many generations of Bletchley families worked in the local brick fields, sons following their fathers into the industry. After the Second World War many Italians set up home in the Bletchley area and made a valuable manpower contribution to the brick industry.
Sadly, with the decline in housing stockpiles of bricks could be seen at many brickyards. In1993 the London Brick Company, now owned by Hanson ceased production and the last chimney was brought down.
Can you remember the day the chimneys came down?
I can’t remember the day or the time but it’s almost like when people say to you, of a momentous occasion “can you remember what you were doing when………… ?. I was standing at my landing window, where I had a clear view of the chimney, standing tall and proud. Funnily enough I had never thought of it like this in the past. The chimneys had always been there, a blot on the landscape, belching out their evil smelling smoke. They were just part of our daily lives. I waited for the moment and as the time approached, I glanced away for a mere second and when I looked back, the chimney was no longer there. Missed it !!!!!!!
My Husband Alan Waite worked at the brickyards and has this story to tell. I was 18 when I went to work at Skew Bridge which was part of the LBC. I started work at 3am in the morning on occasion drawing bricks from the chambers, which incidentally were extremely hot this wasn’t so bad in the winter. You had to put 72 bricks on a one wheel barrow and wheel it out and up a wooden plank onto the back of the lorry. I then stacked the bricks and rushed back for the next load. This was my job all day and I got 2/6d per thousand bricks. You could draw as many bricks as you wanted., the more you drew, the more you earned.It was very hard work. When you got to Friday, you were nearer the fire and the bricks were red hot and burned your hands. I used to wear pieces of rubber inner tube cut to fit over my fingers to try to protect them. Sometimes when the bricks were facing bricks, you had to bang every brick to release it from the next one. I then went on to setting, which entailed stopping in the chamber and the bricks were brought to you on a fork truck (in a green state-raw clay) you then had to lay them in the chamber in a certain way so that the heat could burn all around them. At this stage, in clay form, each brick was much heavier. Some of the foriegn workers used to bring live chickens to work, they would leave them in a box near the chambers so that they got very warm, then they would take them out, cut their throats and bleed them, the heat made the blood run faster. I hated it when they did this but never said anything to them. The most interesting thing was watching the steeplejacks erecting ladders up the outsides of the chimneys, they just knocked spikes into the bricks, hung the ladders on them and up they went, no health and safety then. It always amazed me that with no safety harnesses, no one ever fell.
I am really surprised that there have not been more comments on the brickyards, I know there must be many people who worked there for many years and have a story or two to tell. I await with anticipation.
The brickyards were very important to our family as our Father, Arthur {tod} Phillips, worked there as a “burner” from the mid 50s till late 70s. He used to bike to the Newton Longville works from our home in Windsor St.every day. He worked a 3 shift system 6am -2pm, 2pm-10pm, and 10pm-6am. although the men used to like getting relived early from the afternoon shift and oftern Dad would beheading out for work at 9pm when he was on the night shift. I wonder if this allowed the afternoon worker time to pop into the Shoulder of Mutton or the Eight Bells on the way home for a “quick one” I remember vividly visting Dad at work and climbing the tall ladders onto the top of the kiln where the burners fed coal dust down the pots into the kiln to “burn” the bricks. The heavy dampers on top of the kiln were used to control the temp and travel of the fire around the kiln. Looking down into the kiln you cold see the flames and certainly felt the heat.!!. there was a small cabin or hut on the top of each kiln where the burners could shelter between walking aaroung and feeding the fires .I remember Dads hut being very warm and cosy,even on the coldest nights..Dad used to get a big kick out of working nights on Christmas eve, when he would tell us of looking out across the saints estate and Far Bletchley in the early hours many lights would twinkle on for a few minutes before being shut off till a more resonable hour. It was just over excited children waiting to see what Father Christmas had bought !! The big chimeys from both Flettons on Stoke road and LBC at Newton Longville were always good landmark and now when we return to the area [we have lived in Canada since 1974] we find it difficult to negotiate around town without such familiar landmarks. LBC lorries were quite a usual site around town. We had a neighbour who drove for LBC for many years and he would talk fondly of his busy days often doing several trips to bulding sites in the greater London aera in one day.. Sometimes the lorry would be parked , empty on our street.. Ron was back home a little early having a cup of tea before returning to the yard where the lorry would be loaded overnight ready for the next day.!!
Many thanks Graham for your comments on your father’s work as a ‘burner’ at the London Brick. Now a lot of the local brickworks have disappeared, so have the skills that were used to produce the bricks, it is good though to get a good in-depth description of the workers daily life and how it impacted on their families.
You mention local landmarks disappearing making it difficult for yourself when visiting Bletchley. Believe you me, I live locally and I’m still confused with some of the grid system that is Milton Keynes.
Great story Graham. The very Graham Phillips I remember from the Boys Brigade. You started up the 3rd Bletchley in West Bletchley. Good times. The stage shows, the camps, your accident when that car ran into the back of our marching band.
Wonderful story Graham. Although I lived very near the brickyards, Until recently,, I hadn’t realised how many people were employed there. It would be interesting to hear how many people did actually work there in it’s heyday. I too get confused and I am sure there are many areas of Milton Keynes I haven’t yet seen. When I am cycling, I just head off and go where my bike takes me and I often get lost. Thankfully, with the grid system and the redways, I am not lost for long and usually manage to find my way home. One thing I have often wondered though, at it’s widest point, how many miles across is Milton Keynes.
My father and the rest off his family worked there. Mark wells, peter wells, phil wells and also john pecoraro and luigi marano. aful dodger also worked there, although im not to sure what his name was.
My dad is always telling his stories of working there, our house looks onto the brick yard and as children we always use to walk around there on weekends. Amazing how quick things change, its a real shame there isnt any history books or information on the building and business also the hard working people that spent so much time there and built such a close family like relationships. still many years later my father still bumps into old friends in and around bletchley.
Hi Hannah, I’ll mention these names to my husband Alan when he gets back from the allotment. His name is Alan Waite (nickname Gussy) does your father remember him. He would have been quite a young man then perhaps 18 ish.
My father, Peter Rowe worked at the brickworks for many years. Firstly at The Jubilee brickworks in Stoke Road as a forklift operator and then at Newton Longville as a wicket man. My grandfather was a driver for LBC and didn’t retire until he in his his 70’s, I remember there being an article in The Gazette about his retirement, which I can try and find because I think the family somewhere still has a copy. My uncles also worked there Danny Rowe, Jeff Rowe. Some of my earliest memories are of Christmas parties that the LBC put on for us and family nights out at the LBC (now Scots) club
Many thanks Julie for your comments. Bletchley does have quite a history in the brickmaking industry and made a valuable contribution providing bricks for not only local but nationwide building projects. We do have at BCHI one or two photographs of children’s parties at the LBC, when I find them I will post them on to the site, you never know you may be on them or alternatively recognize a few faces!
Now there is one thing that intrigues me, what is a ‘wicket man’?
Hi Julie. I joined LBC in 1977 as an apprentice mechanic and worked with your uncle Danny. Of course I was only 16 but Danny was a giant of a man with his hair all greased back. I also remember Danny’s cousin Wally Brown. If you fancy a chat or anyone out there who may remember me feel free to contact me david.walker7d@gmail.com
Hello Julie. I never knew that your Father worked at Jubilee too? My Father was there from c 1964 till it closed and then carried on at Newton Longville. John Muse was his name. He was a Fitters Mate….. Oiling was a past time with ll that machinery. I too remember the Xmas Parties, at one time, they were in the old Labour Hall on Buckingham Road.
Nothing to do with the game robbie 🙂 A wicket man was the man who sealed the kilns and possibly, I’m not sure, broke them down when the bricks were “cooked”
If the photos are of the 60’s I could possibly be on one, or my brothers may be, would be great to see.
I actually grew up in Newton Longville but we did our shopping, went to school, had our entertainment etc. in Bletchley so I consider myself a Bletchley girl.
Just a quick responce to Phil Jones. Thanks for your comments. They were good times at BB and the Whaddon way church activites, and with time i think the memories get better. Do you and your family members still live in the Bletchley area?
Yes still all here, Chris and Graham! And Eric Nichols, John Roberts, Gordon Dodd. Not in touch but happen to know that Charlie Harmsworth is still local, on the hill up into the woods in Bow Brickhill. Funnily enough I lived in Windsor Street from 1976 to about 1984 just down from your old family home? I seem to remember Paul being there. I’m not much further away now.
Actually, as this is about the brickworks, I also worked there in the summer of 1972 or 1973 aged 18. Hard work but good money for the time. I was in a shed taking the clay brick off the conveyor onto the trollies before being taken off for firing. Two shifts, both 7 until 4.30, hated going to work on nights when all my mates were off to the pub and then couldn’t sleep when I got home at 5 in the morning. I worked with a guy for about two weeks before he spoke to me and let me sit with him at the breaks. I think he saw this long haired hippy turn up on the first day and thought all his bonus was about to go out of the window. Once he realised I was a grafter, I was accepted and we earnt good money although the foreman (Charlie someone?) used to put the other English starters in with us to show them the ropes. Trouble was they got in the way and we would get the hump but most of them never got past the first week anyway.
I was a setter,wat a laugh we had really miss London brick ,john angus its a shame it died god bless lbc
I know you may think this a silly question, but how did they know when the bricks were ready?
No Sandra it’s a good question, mind you having said that I haven’t a clue myself; think we need an answer from John!
The fire in a kiln travels continuously, the travel of the fire is controlled by the use of dampers & the temperature is controlled by ” Easing”, Which is done by moving the pots that cover the feeding holes, to allow cold air into the chamber.
Oxford clay has natural content which self combusts, so when it reaches say 960C the temperature has to be kept under control, otherwise you will not have a good quality brick…..
Before the days of the Thermocouple, the old school burners, did it by eye..
The maximum temperature depended on the type of brick being burnt, as the fire travelled forward the chambers behind would be allowed to cool. We would then knock a small hole in the top corner of the wicket, to assist cooling….
The ” Wicket Man ” would then pull down the remainder of the wicket, and stack the bricks into a block.
A chamber of bricks would take about a week to go through the process, of drying, burning & cooling down.
Really interesting comments Dave! Now we all know what a Wicket Man did!
My grandfather Harold Hounsham worked at the brickworks, following in the steps of his father, also Harold. I think Harold Senior was some sort of manager having transferred from Fletton nr Peterborough in the 1930s. They lived in The Villa, Skew Bridge. I’m trying to find some photos if anyone can help with that.
Many thanks for your comments regarding The Villa, Skew Bridge, Claire, this being where your grandfather used to live. Please have a look at the new post which hopefully you will find of interest.
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I don’t like correcting people but the brickyard at Newton Longville closed in 1991 thanks to Conservatives selling off council properties which killed off the new builds. I was working there from 1983-1991, went there straight from school. At the interview they asked who my dad was who worked there; I said Mr Stones.
Derek
We don’t mind being corrected; it all builds to a better record of Bletchley’s past.
Bletchley Community Heritage
Have just been reading about the history of brick making in Bletchley and find contradictory statements and dates in ‘Wiki (Newton Leys)’ and ‘Bletchley Bricks’ compared with ‘Bletchley: The Influence of Railways on Town Growth by Peter Richards’. There is also evidence of brickworks both at Newton Longville and Water Eaton on the OS map surveyed in 1880. ‘Britain from Above’ has some wrongly annotated but great pictures. See Skew bridge villa for one. Who does one believe?
By the way I bought some roofing materials from the Water Eaton site when they were demolishing the ‘Fletton’ brickworks.
Some interesting points John! Quite often when we are doing some research at Bletchley Community Heritage we often see or hear comments that we often wonder, ‘Is that right’! People have set ideas or views on a subject and it’s very difficult sometimes to convince them otherwise. As you say, ‘who does one believe’?
You mentioned Skew Bridge Villa, have a look at the link below:
Any further comments you may have on the brick industry we would be very pleased to hear.
Was the brickyard at Water Eaton the Flettons works? Reached by the road leading off the Drayton Road or the lane going down the side of the Newfoundout?
Yes, it was indeed Dean! If you have any old photographs of the site we would be very pleased to see them at BCH.
I worked for Eastwoods, Redlands, LBC Hanson for 46 years in Peterborough. I was employed as a driver when boys were men, no power steering, 8-wheels. You soon developed a few extra muscles here and there. Being a family concern my grandfather, father, uncle, brother and even my daughter. Oh, I almost forgot the fantastic RDL transport. I don’t think as with every driver you started work in the yard first, until a vacancy arose on the fleet. We had around 20 lorries, all eight-wheelers and one four-wheeler. Until you could work out how to stretch a days run in eight hours, wherever you were dispatched, it took some getting used to. Years rolled by, one day we were called into the canteen by the manager who advised us not to come into work on Monday; we had been taken over by LBC, no redundancy! Just had to report to their transport office and they will sort us out. So goodbye Eastwoods, Redlands, hello London Brick Company.
David
Was the narrow gauge railway and aerial ropeway in use when you worked for Eastwoods and then Redlands?
Following on from John Cunningham’s post, there were also Brickworks in Fenny Stratford and one at the top end of Duncombe Street. Gregory Odell Clarke had two Brickworks in Fenny, one at the rear of the old tyre place between the Canal and the River Ouzel, and another where the new houses are at Saracens Wharf/Penn Road. There was also a Brickworks in Simpson Road near the canal in the area of the bridge, this was owned by Samuel Bragg. Also, there was a Brick and Tile works at Woburn Sands, and a small one at Little Woolstone. And probably many more scattered around the locality.
This info and a great deal more can be found in “History Of Milton Keynes and District” Vol.2 by Sir Frank Markham ISBN 0 900804 12 2.
Many thanks for your comments Dave. You mentioned a Brick and Tile works at Woburn Sands, was this running alongside of the Bletchley to Bedford railway line?
At least 11 Sandra, but I have a feeling that it may have been more as I think that some of the older kilns had a chimney at each end…Someone will know.
How many chimneys were there at LBC in it’s heyday?
Robbie, As far as I know there were 4 brickworks at Woburn Sands, but not all at the same time. On the 1882 OS Map there are 2 Brickworks shown, one on the south side of the station (Charles Dudley Brick and Tile Works) where Plysu’s used to be. An one on the North side of the railway line. But on the 1900 OS map the one on the north side of the railway has gone, and has been replaced by Fullers Earth.
Also on the 1900 OS map the Fletton/Eastwoods Brickworks appears to the west of the station close to the railway line. The old Knothole on this site is still a popular place for local Anglers.
There was also a small Brickworks a little to the south of Dudley’s at one time, but I do not have any dates for it.
Thanks Dave that’s interesting! I knew about the Fletton/Eastwood site but was not aware of the others. Also, I thought the only Fullers Earth site was up on the edge of the woods off the road to Woburn.
Hi Robbie. When was London Brick opened and when did it shut down, and in it’s heyday, how many people in total worked there? The only memory I have is the awful smell, it never seemed to go away. Does anyone remember the peculiar smell in Fenny, I’ve often wondered what caused it?
Hello Sandra, perhaps Dave Jackson might be able to help us out when the London Brick opened up, alternatively it may have been mentioned in Sir Frank Markham’s book ‘History of Milton Keynes’; again the closure you mentioned that should be hopefully an easier task. Yes, like you I do remember the sulphur smell that used to come from the brickworks. My Dad always used to say it burnt holes in the leaves of the roses in our garden.
The smell in Fenny Stratford used to I believe come from Valentin Ord and Nagle by the side of the Grand Union canal. It was from the molasses I understand they used to process; quite a sickly smell if I recollect!
Hi Sandra, Robbie has answered the second part of your question, I remember that smell well.
The original Brickworks started up around 1890, by a man called John Thornton Reid & his father Thomas.
This works was on the opposite side of the road to the later larger works, the works as we knew it was built c1933.
The works was acquired by The London Brick Co & Forders in 1929.
I believe that the workforce would have numbered around 500 in it’s heyday, but maybe some one else can be more precise.
From memory I think that it closed in 1991..
Hi Dave, thank you for that. I’m just thinking. If the original works was on the other side of the road, would it be where that little fishing lake is? Do you think this may have been where they dug the clay?
Yes it was Sandra, I used to go fishing there back in the 60’s..
It was only a small Brickworks employing 12 men..
I was clearing the snow from my drive this morning (again) and spoke to a very nice gentleman in passing. It transpired that he moved to Bletchley in 1953 and his name was Ian. We talked about the schools we had attended and it came to light that he was at school with my sister at Church Green Road. He seemed very interested in the history of our old town so I told him about this site. I wrote down the on line address. I do hope he manages to log in as I know he will find it of some interest as I did.
Hi Dave, just looking at your comment about the small brickworks. If there were only 12 men working there, surely they wouldn’t have been able to produce many bricks, and where were their kilns?
I’m looking for information on the Eastwoods, then Redlands fletton brickworks at Kempston Hardwick
I worked at Newton Longville yard as a fitters mate when I was 15; brilliant job. I still have a photo of the last two chimneys before they were demolished.
Just browsing, as I haven’t been on site for quite some time. I remember the day when it was reported in the Gazette that the very last chimney was going to be demolished at the brick works near Newton Longville, on a particular date and a certain time. The day arrived, I stood at my landing window, with eyes fixed on the chimney. The clock was ticking, and the time was rapidly approaching. I couldn’t wait. Suddenly it was seconds away…….I held my breath. I glanced down at something, for the briefest moment, and guess what? I missed it!!!!!!! I had waited all that time, an event that can never be repeated. Another of those memorable moments in life.
I Started work at the Bletchley yard 1968 in the maintenance workshop. taken on by Fred only In the yard for a month or two the moved to the knot hole to cover the maintenance that was needed down there, the face shovel ( RB135 ) and the dragline ( RB110 ) the kibblers and the belts up to the yard. one of the drivers of the 135 was Horace Rowe, in think he was trainee when the 135 was built. Derek Essen a driver of the 110 big John Richardson was in charge 1 shift, the other was Arthur Wallduck ( sorry spelling ), Bill Brown was a real character knew where all the wildlife lived and what a story teller still makes me grin when i think about him winning 1st prize in the large tomatoes section with his red currents. Or how he used 5 runner beans across the ditch to roll the marrow from the allotment because it was to big to get through the gate. I remember the 2 trucks which used to take the clay to jubilee works. they was loaded in front of the workshop down the pit.
Yeah Ted Hannan was foreman in knot hole big John came from milton keynes village his gang was bud from Stoke Hammond Bill day Alf Barnett whose son Tom was in charge of tractor shop Alf and Bud where kibbler operators Horace driver of the 135 could get a backing tin out of your rear pocket with the bucket tooth you had to see it to believe it the other 110 driver was pip from Leighton Buzzard Stan Essen the greyhound fanatic could have driven the 110 with his eyes shut brilliant the 135 driver was Jackie abbot great bloke and driver you had walduck on one kibbler and Charlie gurney on the other john from Bletchley was the other tractor driver 951b can’t remember his last name lived Westfield Road As for Bill brown what he didn’t know wasn’t worth knowing brilliant bloke I started 69 when I was 15 fitters mate Fred Appleby great foreman great memories never to be forgotten
Hi mick I remember you well you and Alan I worked with you for little while while Alan was off good times a i was gordies mate Dave I remember the clay wagons one was driven by Bill Foster and his mate Arthur don’t know Arthur’s second name now mick nothing left the same as Bedford all gone
I worked at Newton Longville in 1969 as a fitters mate also skew bridge as we had access from a internal road either by van or 13 ton ex brick lorry which I drove at 15 years old can’t do that today the other brick yard was Bletchley flettons now known as blue lagoon between Bedford and CALVERT there was 13 brick yards now not 1
in the RAF 54/57 I remember how discoloured the water was.. On bath night it formed a scum…..
My Grandfather WLATER GEORGE HOPKINS WORKED THERE AND IS LISTED AS A MANAGER ON THE 1921 CENSUS,,,,any other folks researching?