Shaw & Swift, Longton

In 1867 Shaw, Goldstraw, & Swift first appear as manufacturers of fire bricks and sanitary tubes, at Clayton Street, Daisy Bank, Longton. They are not listed in the 1865 trade directory although it is clear thatthe site was in production before 1857 when the south side was occupied by the Orchard Place Brick Works and the north side by Clayton Street Brick & Tile Works. In 1879 Goldstraw is no longer involved with the firm which then traded as just Shaw & Swift. By 1912 Ayshford Street was built along the access off Clayton Street and became the address for the brickworks. Still listed in 1924, the business had closed and the works had been demolished by 1936.

Both the bricks illustrated are from nineteenth century buildings in Longton and the upper one with the reversed 'G' in the lettering is, I believe, from quite early in their history and contains some quite large pebbles.