1899 Stone Cutting at Walters Ash

Research by Joan West from the business documents of Bristow Bros., lent by Jill Bristow

1899 Stone Cutting at Walters Ash
Year	1899
Village
Author	Jill Bristow
Copywrite
Theme
Social Period	Category:1800's

WALTERS ASH FARM, opposite Bradenham Turn, is the last property in the east of Lacey Green parish.  The land is partly in Lacey Green and partly in Walters Ash. The farmhouse is in Lacey Green. Recorded from 1656, Walters Ash Farm was occupied then by Richard Janes, still a local family and it still continues as a farm.   However in 1896 major changes were afoot.

FAMOUS STONE FOUND

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.

DONNEYBROOK.

In the 1901 census Thomas Bristow was listed as a stone merchant, living at Darvills Hill.  Having acquired Walters Ash Farm five years previously he had let the farm house and some of the land, which he continued to do.   He then built a house next to the old farmhouse, on the Main Road in Walters Ash, which he called "Donnybrook", to which the family moved.

ADVERTISING

The following is a copy of their letter sent out to potential customers.  It was attractively headed announcing Denner Hill Stone, with three photographs showing stones of various sizes and shapes, under which was a panel stating T. Bristow & Bros. underlined with scrolling saying. “Stone Merchants Contractors.”

Dear Sirs,

We beg to inform you that we have acquired the rights of quarrying the noted “Denner Hill” Stone on certain lands, where we have extensive supplies of the BEST QUALITY STONE

The Denner Hill Stone, as per your above views, is used for all kinds of Edge Kerbings, Pitchings, Cubes, Channelling, Steps, Sills, Posts, Building, &c., &c. and is one of the most durable and most reliable stones known.  Undoubtedly the Denner Hill will wear out some of the stones now in the market several times over, and it will thus prove in the end a much cheaper material.   It is a good, clean, white colour, which is a very essential absolutely weather-resisting merit connected with this stone.   It is a capital stone for building purposes, large quantities having been used in the construction of Windsor Castle, and many other places of note.

Hitherto it has been difficult to fill large orders of Denner Hill Stone with any degree of promptitude, partly owing to the sources being limited, and also to the scarcity of Practical Dressers of this noted material.  In our case this is now  obviated, as we have secured considerable stone-bearing areas from which we have already taken very large supplies of stone, and we are thus in a position to meet our customers’ requirements without delay.  We have also a very efficient staff of workmen, skilled in all branches of our Trade.   This gives us additional facilities and advantages in supplying the Denner Hill Stone.

It is the aim of our Firm to supply High-class Goods, so as to give complete satisfaction to all our customers.   To further our aim in this respect, we pay all our workmen by the hour, or day, as the case may be, and this again enables us to have much better work turned out.   We endeavour to engage best Practical Dressers of stone.   When laying stone, we in all cases send Practical Dressers for this purpose.   Our Layers being Competent and Experienced Workmen, can then cut stone when and where required.

It will be obvious to those requiring stone, that they will do well by placing orders with us.   We can assure customers of “Good Workmanship throughout.    Orders will be executed as expeditiously as possible to meet the requirements of our customers, and all orders entrusted to us will be under the direct supervision of Members of the Firm.

We shall be pleased to quote for any kind of Ordinary or Special Dressed Denner Hill Stone.    We have a good stock of Chippings on hand, very suitable for concrete and other purposes.

We are, yours respectfully:    T. BRISTOW & BRO

Research note. 4x4 inch setts (cobble stones) were used for pavements, roads and stable floors. These were skilfully made, especially those for such as stable floors, designed to be on a slight slope for drainage. In 1899 these cost 20 shillings and sixpence per ton (£1.10p) In 2017, these could be bought, reclaimed, for £180 tonne + VAT.

Research note. From the start right through to the end of WW2 the countryside was in depression. Men walked and maybe later cycled from far to work for Bristows, many from Lacey Green and around.

PS Thomas Bristow & Bros. did also develop their brick making business which will be reported separately.