Skills

BODGING. WOOD TURNING.

A bodger, was skilled, turning wood into legs, arms and backs for Windsor chairs, working in the woods.

BRICK MAKING

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 13^th 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. Two houses were built with the bricks from this for May Ashdown and Beryl Highgate two of Tom’s grand-daughters.

STONE CUTTING AT DENNER HILL

Denner Hill Stone was famous, primarily for cobblestones with which roads, sidewalks and buildings were paved.  They were known as “Denner Hill Setts”.    Its source was known as ‘Denner Hill Quarry’, but it was not a “quarry” as such.  The stones were located by driving a pole into the ground until stones were hit.  Then they were exposed by digging away the soil around them.   They were duly cut up in situ.   The hole left was then supposed to be filled back in.  Complaints were sometimes lodged regarding the failure to do this.   After many years it was becoming more difficult to find the stones, and in 1896,Thomas Bristow, a stone merchant, decided to start a brickworks and purchased Walters Ash Farm, the land there being good brickmaking clay.   In digging for clay the land was found to contain the same stones as those at Denner Hill.   Still calling it Denner Hill Stone, for that name was widely famous, his stone working business was started, trading as T. Bristow & Bros not only making setts but also many other commodities with the stone.

STONE CUTTING AT WALTERS ASH FARM

Stone cutting quickly became established at Walters Ash Farm, creating much needed work for local men.

A tragedy occurred in 1906 when 19 year old Ralph Plumridge died at the quarry. For details click Inquest. Quarry death