It's been a while since I posted anything new so I thought I'd share this. No name and no location, so please don't ask: I have my reasons.
Anonymous Brickworks was founded in 1921 and produced both handmade and mass-produced bricks and tiles.
I used to fish the works reservoir pond in the 1990s and visited the works several times as a result. I can remember the old machinery, some of which dated back to the 1930s still working away and the long, tunnel-like Hoffmann kilns empty but still warm between firings. At this time, bricks and tiles were still being made by hand in part of the works and it was a friendly, if noisy place employing about 50-60 people.
Around 2000-1 the brickworks was bought out by a larger company who demolished most of the old buildings and built a large automated, computer-controlled plant there which became the new focus of production. Although the kilns and dryers were demolished, the old factory inexplicably survived, sandwiched between two newer buildings and became a dumping ground for unwanted materials from the new works and unsold pallets of bricks.
When the recession hit 4 years ago the resulting decline in the construction industry forced the works to close with the loss of around 40 jobs. The works has since re-opened, but now employs only a handful of workers and has a very limited output.
I approached the works through dense woods and valleys, listening for signs of life as I got closer. It was a bank holiday, but I knew that there would most likely be people on site. I skirted the huge claypit before diving back into the woods then re-emerging in the old clay stockyard. The coast was clear so I made a dash for the factory and then I was in. To me, having known the place when it was a deafening hive of industry the stillness seemed somehow unnatural. The distant strains of Haddaway's 'What is Love?' emanating from somewhere in the new factory did nothing to dispel the air of melancholy while the far-off beeping of a forklift and the drip-drop of water filtering through the broken asbestos roofing added a strange, almost ghostly air to the place.
After about 40 minutes, I had seen all I wanted to see and made my exit unseen.
Old Factory
Bedeschi clay crusher and conveyor from claypit
Plenty of cool switchgear around
2002
Last remaining production line
Based in Derby, Bennett and Sayer were once the UK's largest manufacturer of brickmaking plant.
Some kind of extruder, I think
The electricity was still on but this clock had long ago ground to a halt.
Huge water tanks above the factory floor. The ladder was a bit shaky, as was the floor, so I didn't venture far
Charging stations for electric forklifts
H&S Noticeboard
Lots of lightbulbs
Washroom
Forklift repair shop
Drawers
Looking down the factory. The dryers on the left have all been demolished but their doors still remain.
Thanks for reading,
Arch.
History
Anonymous Brickworks was founded in 1921 and produced both handmade and mass-produced bricks and tiles.
I used to fish the works reservoir pond in the 1990s and visited the works several times as a result. I can remember the old machinery, some of which dated back to the 1930s still working away and the long, tunnel-like Hoffmann kilns empty but still warm between firings. At this time, bricks and tiles were still being made by hand in part of the works and it was a friendly, if noisy place employing about 50-60 people.
Around 2000-1 the brickworks was bought out by a larger company who demolished most of the old buildings and built a large automated, computer-controlled plant there which became the new focus of production. Although the kilns and dryers were demolished, the old factory inexplicably survived, sandwiched between two newer buildings and became a dumping ground for unwanted materials from the new works and unsold pallets of bricks.
When the recession hit 4 years ago the resulting decline in the construction industry forced the works to close with the loss of around 40 jobs. The works has since re-opened, but now employs only a handful of workers and has a very limited output.
Exploration
I approached the works through dense woods and valleys, listening for signs of life as I got closer. It was a bank holiday, but I knew that there would most likely be people on site. I skirted the huge claypit before diving back into the woods then re-emerging in the old clay stockyard. The coast was clear so I made a dash for the factory and then I was in. To me, having known the place when it was a deafening hive of industry the stillness seemed somehow unnatural. The distant strains of Haddaway's 'What is Love?' emanating from somewhere in the new factory did nothing to dispel the air of melancholy while the far-off beeping of a forklift and the drip-drop of water filtering through the broken asbestos roofing added a strange, almost ghostly air to the place.
After about 40 minutes, I had seen all I wanted to see and made my exit unseen.
Old Factory
Bedeschi clay crusher and conveyor from claypit
Plenty of cool switchgear around
2002
Last remaining production line
Based in Derby, Bennett and Sayer were once the UK's largest manufacturer of brickmaking plant.
Some kind of extruder, I think
The electricity was still on but this clock had long ago ground to a halt.
Huge water tanks above the factory floor. The ladder was a bit shaky, as was the floor, so I didn't venture far
Charging stations for electric forklifts
H&S Noticeboard
Lots of lightbulbs
Washroom
Forklift repair shop
Drawers
Looking down the factory. The dryers on the left have all been demolished but their doors still remain.
Thanks for reading,
Arch.
