Bricks

John Leigh & Son are shown in the trade directories at High Lane, Burslem from 1904 to 1912. In 1896 there is an entry for John Booth Davis at High Lane.

Thomas and Edward Hodkinson first appear in the trade directory for 1867 at Parkfield Works, Park St, Stoke. The next year only Edward is named as proprietor. The last entry is in 1879 when the brickworks is being run by his executors.

Swan Lane Colliery at Hindley was operated by John Johnson in 1864 and passed in 1868 or 1869 to Edward Johnson who commenced sinking new pits and developing the business including brickworks. Johnson was declared bankrupt in 1886 and the colliery was taken over by Moses Morris who traded as the Swan Lane Brick and Coal Company. Swan Lane Colliery was closed in 1893, some of the brickmaking plant was sold on 15th June 1893. The 1893 1:2500 OS Map shows four round kilns and three rectangular kilns adjacent to the colliery. This square brick paver was picked up on the beach at Crosby.

Radial stretcher - special brick from the Nori works at Acccrington for building curved structures including chimneys.

Henry Warrington, Stoke On Trent This works at Berry Hill, Fenton, first appears in 1889-90 and is last listed in 1912 as Henry Warrington & Son. 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 colliery and associated brickworks on his death in 1880. There was also an iron works at Berry Hill, but the forges closed circa 1900. Warrington employed 1000 men, farmed 400 acres and lived at Fenton Manor House. He shot himself on the 2nd March 1907. Henry Warrington & Son seems to have been the name of the business from c1896.

The Cannon Street Brick Company operated from its central Hanley works during the last quarter of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. It appears in trade directories for 1912 but not 1921.

The Cannon Street Brick Company operated from its central Hanley works during the last quarter of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. It appears in trade directories for 1912 but not 1921.

Thomas Cope first appears as a brickmaker in the 1842 trade directory at Steels Nook, Longton and the business is listed as being run by his executors by 1864. In 1869 the works is listed as Holden Bridge Brickyard, Smallthorne and it is last mentioned in 1904.

Sneyd Colliery & Brickworks Company was operated by Messrs. C.and J. May from 1844. In 1875 it was purchased by Messrs. William Heath, Arthur Dean and W. A. M. Telwright, and was converted into a limited liability company in 1881. Glazed bricks were a speciality of the company, which traded into the 1960s. More details at: www.thepotteries.org/brickworks/sneyd.htm

Glebe Colliery was established by the mid nineteenth century and operated for around 100 years. From the 1860s it was operated by Challinor and Co and then by 1900, J Heath and Co. In 1919 it was in the hands of Fenton Collieries Ltd and continued to work into the nationalised era. It finally closed under the NCB in October 1964. The associated brickworks was situated a short distance to the south of the pit and had three round kilns in 1878. The brickworks was stil in business in the 1930s, but had been levelled by 1953. This example probably dates from after 1919 as Fenton Collieries is stamped on the face but is very unusual. in having the maker's name stamped outside of the frog.

The Dalehall works was on Ellgreave Street at Longport and appears in the trade directories between 1875 and 1892. The works site then appears to have changed to the Dalehall Pottery making earthenware.

Glebe Colliery was established by the mid nineteenth century and operated for around 100 years. From the 1860s it was operated by Challinor and Co and then by 1900, J Heath and Co. In 1919 it was in the hands of Fenton Collieries Ltd and continued to work into the nationalised era. It finally closed under the NCB in October 1964. The associated brickworks was situated a short distance to the south of the pit and had three round kilns in 1878. The brickworks was still in business in the 1930s, but had been levelled by 1953. This example probably dates from after 1919 as Fenton Collieries is stamped on the face.

George Emberton & Co are shown as operating their brickyard at Audley in the trade directories for 1884 and 1896. In 1837 a brickworks was being operated by Thomas Alcock alongside New Road on the Boyles Hall farm estate, owned by Sir T.F.F. Boughey, Lord of the Manor of Audley. The works are shown. From 1884 the brickworks was operated by Emberton & Rigby (later George Emberton & Co.) but still owned by Boughey. By 1899 Boyles Hall brickworks was operated by Audley Brick & Pipe Co. which continued until at least 1908, with the bricks bearing the name “Audley”. The site eventually became McEllin’s builders’ yard. The Boyles Hall housing estate was then built around the yard. After the yard closed the site was cleared and finally the houses of McEllin Close were erected on the site.

Judging by the age of the houses from the garden wall of which this brick came, it commemorates the 1887 Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. Seen in Wolverhampton but the makers could have been anywhere in the West Midlands.

Standard Brickworks, Willenhall Road, Moseley Village, Willenhall. The works was operated by Howard & Davies c.1924, then a name change to the Howard Standard Brickworks Ltd c.1940. Information from Capitol 203. Seen in Wolverhampton

William Longmore, Hopyard brick works, Bentley, Walsall. The works appears in the trade directories at the beginning of the 20th century and has gone by 1940. It was situated on Bentley Mill Lane at the junction of the Anson Branch Canal and the Bentley Canal.

Produced at a brickworks associated with the Cinderhill Colliery of the Babbington Colliery Company. The works appears to have been closed before the pit was nationalised.

Obverse of a brick from the Halifax Glazed Brick Works near Hipperholme that was once operated by Allen & Son (Halifax) Limited. The works later produced Selfrac brand refractory bricks.