{"id":24779,"date":"2023-11-02T12:16:54","date_gmt":"2023-11-02T12:16:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/marthamnorfolk.co.uk\/?page_id=24779"},"modified":"2026-07-13T11:57:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T10:57:28","slug":"brickmaking-at-martham","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/marthamnorfolk.co.uk\/?page_id=24779","title":{"rendered":"Brickmaking at Martham"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"\"Brickmaking at Martham<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This topic is long so I have divided it into two main sections. The first \u2013 SECTION A<\/a><\/em> – is a summary that you can read in about ten minutes and the second \u2013 SECTION B<\/a><\/em> –  is the full article in detail. You can jump to any section by clicking on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SECTION A \u2013 Ten Minute Summary<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There were at least seven or eight brickyards in Martham, (one is a little uncertain). They are highlighted in different colours on the map below.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Main Map. This map is based on the 1884 Ordnance Survey six inches to the mile map but zoomable as an overlay courtesy of the National Library of Scotland (www.nls.uk). (5)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

History<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Brickmaking flourished in Martham, particularly in the 19th<\/sup> century because of the availability of suitable clay and brick earths(3)<\/sup> which were formed millions of years ago in post glacial conditions.  Brick earth could be mixed with estuarine clay that when fired made stronger bricks(3).<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brick making was brought to Britain by the Romans<\/a><\/em> but fell into decline after their departure.  The earliest known post-Roman bricks date from the early-thirteenth century, when Flemish bricks were imported. Flemish and Dutch people then settled in England bringing their skills with them. Many of these Flemish migrants settled in the East of England; brickmaking flourished and they influenced brick making locally making use of the good supply of suitable clay and brick earth. During this period brickmakers travelled to construction sites to make bricks from the local clay rather than get them from larger production sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mechanisation came to the brickmaking industry in the 1820s and with improved transport infrastructure permanent brickyards became established which could produce many thousands of bricks per day with a smaller workforce than was needed to produce them by the old hand craft system. In 1850 Great Britain abolished its brick tax that had been established in 1784. In and around Martham the industry made good use of the Broadland waterways and wherries for transporting bricks before the arrival of the local railway<\/a><\/em> in 1878. The combination of mechanisation and removal of the brick tax gave rise to a large increase in production. The small country yards, unable to invest in machinery, were either bought out or driven to closure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some buildings can be roughly dated based on the brickwork pattern (bond) used .  English bond dates roughly from the mid 17th<\/sup> century to the 18th<\/sup> century by which time the more decorative Flemish bond became more popular. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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English bond brickwork<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Flemish bond brickwork<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Making Bricks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bricks are generally made from tempered clay or brick earth dug from the ground and sometimes mixed with sand. It is picked clear of stones and other unwanted matter and then mixed to the right consistency for brickmaking. The clay is then thrown into wooden moulds to form the shape of the brick. When moulding a brick, it is vital that no air is trapped inside the clay. Excess clay is removed by running over the mould with a wire. The bricks would then be left to dry for at least 48 hours in a shed or south facing field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the bricks were dry enough, they were stacked to form a kiln in order to bake them. Flues were set into the stack and timber or coal fires prepared. The fires were lit and the bricks were \u201cburnt\u201d in stacks containing between 800 and 1,000 pieces. Firing usually took two to three days reaching a temperature of around 1,040 degrees centigrade. They were then allowed to cool naturally and the temporary kiln dismantled and the bricks sorted and stacked ready for use. The whole process could take a long while depending on the weather and it tended to be seasonal to avoid frosts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The colour of a brick is determined by the chemical composition of the clay, the fuel used to fire them and the levels of oxygen available during the firing process. Martham bricks were traditionally burnt red and called Norfolk or Martham reds which were good quality and could withstand frosts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martham Brickworks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

1.         Bracey\u2019s – Hemsby Road<\/a><\/em> Brickworks<\/strong>.
Grid Reference: TG 4626 1808.
This site belonged to William James Bracey (1847-1922) <\/a><\/em>and is shown in purple on the  map above. The site provided good quality brick earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.        Bracey\u2019s – Windpump<\/a><\/em> Brickfield, near the Thurne<\/a><\/em> Riverside.<\/strong>
Grid Reference: TG 4356 1897.
This is the site that has been questioned by some experts. It is claimed to have been next to and south of the windpump <\/a><\/em>that still exists today. The site is shown in yellow on the map above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.        Brickfield Farm<\/a><\/em> Brickworks, Staithe Road<\/a><\/em>.<\/strong>
Grid Reference: TG 4570 1888.
Shown in light blue on the map above, this site was at what is now 25 Somerton Road<\/a><\/em>. The farm and brickfield existed at the time of the 1812 Inclosure Award<\/a><\/em> when they were owned by George Wilson (1748-1834) and they  remained in the ownership of the same family until 1851. The date that brick production came to an end is unknown but it could have been at about this time as no records exist of subsequent owners of Brickfield Farm<\/a><\/em> being associated with brickmaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4.        Chapman\u2019s Pit Brickworks (or Bottomless Pit), Ferrygate Lane.<\/a><\/em><\/strong>
Grid Reference: TG 4508 1944.
Shown in orange on the map above, this site once consisted of a mound 4ft high contained by two concentric 19th century brick walls. The outer one was 20ft in diameter whilst the inner one was 8ft. There was one flue and three rectangles to the north. The site came into use between 1812<\/a><\/em> and 1842.<\/a><\/em> The date it ceased production is unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5.        Damgate Farm, Damgate Lane.<\/a><\/em><\/strong>
Grid Reference: TG 457 191.
This site is shown in magenta on the map above. The 1884 OS map refers to two brick yards and a nearby sand pit . Kelly\u2019s Business Directory<\/a><\/em> entries indicate that the site was in use towards the end of the 19th<\/sup> century but when it ceased production is unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6.        Ferrygate Staithe<\/a><\/em> Brickworks (also known as Martham Pits).<\/strong>
Grid Reference: TG 447 195.
This site is the best known in Martham mainly because its former clay pits have flooded and now provide some excellent fishing. Shown in pink on the map above, parts of the site were easily accessible to Ferrygate Lane Staithe<\/a><\/em> for brick distribution. It was once a large site of about 10 acres with kilns for both brick and tile making. It also had a small railway and temporary skeleton windpump. The eastern section was disused by 1884 probably because the clay there had been exhausted. The brick field was owned by Robert Moore<\/a><\/em> who was very entrepreneurial and it was sold as a going concern shortly after his death in 1885. William Bracey<\/a><\/em> bought the site at auction after the death of Robert<\/a><\/em>  but its eventual closure date is unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7.        Goose\u2019s Brickworks, Repps Road.<\/a><\/em> (Also known as Gowen\u2019s Brickfield)<\/strong>.
Grid Reference: TG 449 176 on the south side of Repps Road<\/a><\/em> and TG 447 175 on the north side.
Shown in green on the map above, this site was on the south side of Repps Road<\/a><\/em> roughly where Bosgate Rise is today and opposite on the north side of the road. There was a kiln on the south side of the site. John Goose (1767-1847) owned the land there in 1812<\/a><\/em> and 1842<\/a><\/em>. There was no mention of it being a brickyard in 1812<\/a><\/em> but by 1842<\/a><\/em> part of the site was in use for making bricks. By 1891<\/a><\/em> brickmaking was still in production and the business was owned by James Gowen (1827-1899). The 1906 OS map marks \u2018Old Brick Kiln\u2019 on the north side of the site with pits. The revision of the 1938 OS map shows no sign of the brickworks at either site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8.        Linford\u2019s<\/a><\/em> Brickyard, Black Street.<\/a><\/em><\/strong>
Grid Reference: TG 4537 1834.
Shown in red on the map above, this site is better known to many locals as the former Kirby\u2019s<\/a><\/em> Yard that is now Oak Tree Close. In 1822 Moses<\/em><\/a> Linford<\/a><\/em> owned the site and made good use of the land that had a 15ft thick seam of brick earth of the same quality as that at Bracey\u2019s Hemsby Road<\/a><\/em> site. Moses\u2019<\/a><\/em> son James<\/a><\/em> had taken over production by 1842<\/a><\/em>.  There was a brick kiln in use at the site in 1852. The site was purchased by James Edwin Kirby<\/a><\/em> in 1911.  He had started out as a brick and salvage merchant and when the brick earth became exhausted it was his descendants that turned the remaining pit into Kirby\u2019s<\/a><\/em> haulage and farming contractors yard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martham Properties Built of Norfolk Red Bricks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the past many buildings could be found in the village built with \u2018Norfolk Reds\u2019 made in Martham. Not many remain but those that do provide the best evidence of the industry and some show high quality workmanship. The following are just a few examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n