1899 Brickworks at Walters Ash
From Lacey Green History
This article is listed in Social Snapshots up to 1899 inc
Walters Ash Farm is the property at the far south in the parish, opposite Bradenham turn.
Thomas Bristow, a stone merchant, bought the farm in 1896 in order to start a brickworks, the clay there being very suitable for bricks.
The brickworks was launched on Jan 13th 1896. (T. Bristow and Bros.)
“Naphill Hand Made Bricks” as they became known, were sought after for their colour of soft mauves mingled with a soft red, long after a factory made, cheaper, commodity had virtually stolen the market.
The last burn of bricks was in 1963 when his son Archibald Charles Bristow (known as Ben) retired. click Archibald & Hilda Bristow for their life story
Two houses were built with the bricks from this for May Ashdown and Beryl Highgate two of Tom’s grand-daughters.
Also see 1899 Stone Cutting at Walters Ash, also at Walters Ash Farm