"Old Bricks - history at your feet"

Wales page 3, Letters K to S

Letter K

Kerry

A Kerry firebrick, possibly from the same works as White - Kerry.  Found in Corrientes province, Argentina by Cris Pasquali.


Killay



Found at Weobley Castle by Phil Jenkins, who adds:  As far as I can tell it's a product of Evans-Bevan Ltd, Clyne brickworks who also produced bricks imprinted 'Evans-Bevan Ltd, Clyne Works, Killay' (see below) and  'Clyne Killay' (see below).  See separate entry for Evans & Bevans.



Photo by Martyn Fretwell courtesy of the John Baylis Collection.



Photo by Martyn Fretwell.

Letter L

J Lancaster

This is presumably from the brickworks of John Lancaster, Nantyglo, Blaenavon.  Thanks to Norman Lowe for the photo and information.



Photo by Richard Clarke.

Photo by David Hernon.

Photo by Phil Burgoyne.


William H Lee, Newtown



 Photographed at Corris by Martyn Fretwell.

Little Mill Brick Co, Pontypool

Photo by Chris Shaw.

Possibly the most prolific of the Eastern Valley brick works, Little Mill Brick Co which operated at Little Mill, Pontypool, possibly as a successor to J Burgoyne. The company is first listed in the 1922 Kelly's and it operated until the 1980s. Today, the site is the Little Mill Go Kart Track.  Thanks to Lawrence Skuse for the info.

Photo by Frank Lawson.

Photos by Richard Paterson.

Photo from the Lawrence Skuse collection.


Llangennech

Made by Llangennech Brick & Tile, 5Km ENE of Llanelli, info and image PRBCO





Photos by Richard Paterson.

Llanybyther



This brick seems to have been made by the Highmead Brickworks near Henfaes just south and across the Teifi, from Highmead Mansion, Llanwenog, Ceredigion. Photo and info by Euros Jones.

Llewellyn Aberdare

Thanks to 'Brotherglyn' for this South Wales example.


Llwyndu, Glais



Llwyndu brick works, Glais, Clydach, Swansea.  More info here.

Letter M

Machen

Thanks to Richard Paterson for the contributions.  Machen Brick Co Ltd & Machen Brick, Stone, Lime and Coal Co - there were two brickworks in Machen, a village between Newport and Caerphilly.


Machynys, Llanelly



The Machynys brickworks was situated south of Llanelli close to the Burry tinplate works. It appears on the OS map surveyed in 1878. Ownership was 1884 - William Thomas & Co, 1895 - Machynys Brick & Tile Co, 1899 - Machynys Brick & Tile Co Ltd. The brick company passed into the hands of Richard Thomas & Co Ltd in 1916, and Richard Thomas & Baldwins Ltd from 3/1/45. The works was closed c1948.  Photo and info by David Kitching.

Maesycwmmer



Maesycwmmer is a few miles north of Caerphilly and the works was operating in the early years of the 20th century. It was owned by Edward Harvey.

 



E H, Harv and E Harvey bricks were also made at this works.



Gellydeg is the more precise location for the brick works.  All photos and info by Richard Paterson.



Found adjacent to the Blaen Pig waste tips, at Pwll Du, Blaenavon by Michael Kilner.

Maindy, Cardiff

A product of the Cardiff Brick Company. Info by Phil Jenkins, photo by Anthony Akhurst.


McGaul Quarella



Photo by Martyn Jones.  More info on the works on this website.

Melyn Court/Melincourt

These two were found by Richard Paterson set into the gate pillars of a house at Melincourt. I believe them to be the opposite sides of two identical bricks, as Melincourt and Resolven are adjacent villages and the address of the company is shown in late 19th Century editions of Kelly's as Melincourt Brickworks, Resolven, Neath.





A double-frogged Melyncourt / Resolven brick, photo by Richard Paterson.

Moody Clydach



Photo by Geraint Daniels

Mountain Ash Brick Co

Mountain Ash Brickworks, Cynon Valley, Mid Glamorgan. Photo by Bob.


Letter N

N B C S: see Noel Bros.


National Star, Newport - see under Star Brick & tile


N C B Brick



Found Cardiff 2016. Origin not known. Almost certainly from one of the South Wales coalfield brickworks. Possibly: - Onllwyn Colliery & Brickworks, Onllwyn, Neath, Glamorgan. Photo and info by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

N.C.B. Coed Ely

Coed-Ely Colliery was north of Llantrisant in South Wales.  The pit was sunk in 1901 and by
1919 employed a total of 1700 miners. It closed in 1985.


Photos by Richard Paterson


N.C.B Onllwyn

The Onllwyn Colliery was part of a complex of drift mines working the anthracite seams above the Vale of Neath until about 1964. Note that the letters 'NCB' have been reversed,  Photo and info by Richard Paterson.



Found at the site of Carmarthen Bay Power Station by Hugh Owen.



Spotted on Forestry Commission land near Treforgan by Martyn Fretwell.

Photo by Richard Paterson.


N.C.B. Tredegar

From Tredegar , in the Sirhowy Valley, not far from Ebbw Vale.  Photo and info by Richard Paterson.


New Brickworks Bryn

Bryn brickworks, Port Talbot. Photo by Claire Adams.


Nicholas & Johnson, Rudry

The village of Rudry lies a few miles from Caerphilly. It is hard to believe that this tranquil, rural setting was once the scene of intensive industry, with a tinplate works and the brickworks of Messrs Nicholas & Johnson. Horses now graze in the paddock where the brickworks once stood.




Photos and information by Richard Paterson.

Noel Bros & Co.



Photo by Gareth Thomas.



Photo by Richard Paterson, found in a Newport salvage yard.



Found in a Cardiff house, built 1887, by Mike Statham.

Letter O

Oak, Pontypool



Oak Brick Works at Pontnewynydd, near Pontypool, which was associated with the Oak Colliery and probably closed in the mid-1930s, photo and info by Richard Paterson.  Adam Greenland writes: I have found an old reference to my Great Grandfather John Maybury who is listed in Who's Who In Newport in the 1920s. It states that he was owner of a number of businesses in the Newport area, including amongst others, Maybury & Co Builders Merchants, Newport Adamant Plaster and Keene's Cement Co est. 1905. He was also the sole proprietor of the Penrhiwfelin Colliery and Pennant Stone Quarry, both at Hengoed and Chairman of the Oak Brick Company, ltd, Pontypool. His business address was Great Western Building Yard, 77, 78 and 81 Dock Street Newport.  He obviously retailed the bricks through his business in Newport.









Photos by Richard Paterson.



 Photographed at Corris by Martyn Fretwell.

Photo by Phil Jenkins from Wayne Roberts.


Onllwyn



Found Aberfan, Glamorgan 2016.  Onllwyn Colliery & Brickworks, Onllwyn, Neath, Glamorgan.  See also NCB Onllwyn. Photo and info by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

George B Osborne, Cardigan



Photo by Mike Bennett

Owens, Pentyrch



Made by the Glamorgan Brick Co in Pentyrch under the previous owner Evan Owens & Co, found today in Pontypridd, Mid-Glam.  Photo and info by Phil Jenkins.


Letter P

P D B W: see Powell Dyffryn



H. Parfitt, Cwmbran






The history of Henry Parfitt's brickworks in Cwmbran has been described by Lawrence Skuse - see this website. Photos by Richard Paterson.


Park Brick and Tile Co. Newtown

Photo by Barbara Cooper-Holmes.



Found in a slate quarry in Blaenau Ffestiniog.



Found on a hill farm near Machynllech by Richard Paterson.



Found in Clatter, Powys by Michael Shaw.

T Parry-Jones, Newtown



Photo by Nicholas Moore

Parkia, Caernarfon





Made at Carnarvon brickworks.  The company was registered in 1908 as the New Parkia brick co, receiver appointed 1930 who then sold the works. Struck off register of companies October 1934.  Thanks to Glyn Roberts for the photos.

P B Co - Penarth Brick



Penarth Brickworks Co, found a few hundred yards from where the works stood by Richard Paterson. One of two works in the town.



 Found by Gareth Thomas in South Wales.

P D Co. Aberaman



Photo by Phil Jenkins.

Penarth also see Cogan Pill


Pencoed





http://www.opobs.co.uk/mainsite/brickworks/pencoed.html  Photo and info by Mike Stokes

Penlan Brickworks, Dunvant


Penlan Brickworks was owned by Samuel Jones and Sons as 'Jones. S & Sons (Dunvant) Ltd and 'Penlan Brickworks (Dunvant) Ltd. The 'S&S Dunvant' may be a mis-spelling of 'S J & S' or may be deliberate but is likely to be from Penlan. The works was open from c1895 to at least 1948 and Penlan Brick Works (Dunvant) Ltd is still listed in 1952. Photo by Richard Paterson, info from Phil Jenkins' website http://www.industrialgwent.co.uk/g41-westglam/index.htm#swansea.


Penmaenmawr and Welsh Granite

This isn't a conventional clay brick but is made out of granite dust and chippings,
a quarry by-product. Photo by Alex Betteney.


Penrhos



From the works near Ystradgynlais, Powys (formerly Breconshire) in the Upper Swansea Valley. Photo and info by Richard Paterson.



Photo by Alan Griffiths

Pentyrch: see Glamorgan Brick Co entry


Penwyllt

A product of the Penwyllt Dinas Silica Brick co. from the upper Swansea valley. Thanks to Jonathan for this one.  Unusually the name is on the side of the brick.


Phoenix

Phoenix Brick, Tile & Terra Cotta Co. Bank Buildings, 98 St. Mary Street, Cardiff ; works, Llanishen. Kelly's South Wales Directory 1895. Photo and info by Frank Lawson


Pontyclerc

Pontyclerc Brickworks, Ammanford, Carmarthenshire. Pont-y-clerc Brickworks, Pantyffynnon was opened around 1835 and owned by John Lloyd c1860 but he was bankrupt by 1871. It became the Pontyclerc Fire Brick Works & Anthracite Coal Co but they failed too and the works was auctioned in 1885. John and Joshua Lloyd took over in 1886, a different John Lloyd I assume, under a number of different company names. Finally the colliery became part of Amalgamated Anthracite Ltd and closed in 1934. The brickworks is shown on the 1938 map but marked 'disused' by 1948. I believe the 'P C' stands for 'Pontyclerc Colliery' which owned the brickworks. Both types of brick were found together near Ammanford. Photos by Richard Evans, info by Phil Jenkins.

Photo by Paul Thomas.


Pontypool



Found at Coity Tip local nature reserve by Michael Kilner, a relic of when the site was a working mine.  Manufactured at Upper Race, Pontypool.



Both made at the Blaendare Brickworks, Pontypool.  Photo by Phil Jenkins.

Porthgain

Photo by Frank Lawson, taken at the Sloop Inn, Porthgain.


Porthwen brick works

A TIDY brick made at Porth Wen brickworks near Amlwch in Anglesey.
Read the story of Porth Wen on my website.


Powell Dyffryn brick works



Photo by Richard Paterson.

Powell Dyffryn Steam Coal Co.



Photo by Mike Szura who dug it up on a building site in Penarth, Cardiff.

Letter R

Resolven - see Melyn Court


Radyr



Manufactured by The Radyr Brick and Stone Company, Radyr Quarry, Cardiff - active up to 1908.  Photo and info by Mike Statham.

Risca Coal Co.



 The Risca Coal and Iron Co was owned by John Russell, registered in 1854, and sank the Blackvein Colliery which became notorious for heavy concentrations of firedamp. On 1st December 1860, a disastrous explosion claimed the lives of 146 men and boys. The company was wound up the following year, but the associated brickworks may have continued for a little longer, having been listed in Morris's Directory in 1862 as 'firebrick makers' under the management of Thomas Philpotts.  Photo and information by Richard Paterson.

Photo by Phil Jenkins


Rogerstone



Photo by Richard Paterson, Rogerstone is a village a few miles north of Newport.

Ruby Ynysddu - see Ynysddu

Rudry - see Nicholas & Johnson


J Russell, Risca



Found at Cwmbyr Isaf, Risca. The owner of Waunfawr Brickworks was John Russell in 1836. Russell founded the Risca Coal and Iron Co in 1847 so this brick is probably c1840!

Photos and info by Phil Jenkins.


Letter S

S & S Dunvant - see Penlan Brickworks, Dunvant


S & Co



Uncovered by Erin Rickard on an old house in Swansea, so most probably made locally.

S B



Spotted by Geraint Daniels in Clydach

S. J. Risca, see entry for Southwood Jones


St. Julians, Newport

It is known that this brickworks was operating and supplying bricks in the 1890s, and a wall at Big Pit, Blaenavon has a St Julian's brick in it. Kelly's for 1881 has an entry for 'G Howard, St Julian's, Christchurch, Newport' which may be connected. Kelly's of 1895 has 'St Julian's Brick & Tile Co, Newport. The last entry held is in Kelly's for 1926.  Thanks to Lawrence Skuse.

Photo by Richard Paterson.

Photo by Brotherglyn


Scourse



Found: Mynydd Maen Mountain, above Cwmbran.  South Wales & Monmouthshire Directory & Buyers Guide 1907 lists Scourse I W & Son, Woodside Brick Works, Railway Station, Pontnewydd. Manufacturers of best red and fancy bricks; also covering and floor tiles. Tel No 0192 Nat. Estab 1873."  Photo and info by Lawrence Skuse.

Seiont, Caernarvon

The Seiont brickworks was established c 1850 and was being operated by William Hayward in 1874. Bought by John Summers & Sons Ltd, Shotton it traded as the Castle Brick Co. Ltd until purchased by Hanson in 1972. This was the last brickworks in Caernarvon and finally closed in 2008.  Info and photo by David Kitching.


Sketch





Both sides of a brick from the works of Henry Sketch, Cwmbran, which seems to have closed by World War 1.  Photo and info by Richard Paterson.





Worrall's Trade Directory for Wales, 1875 has an entry for the Woodside Brick Co, Cwmbran, proprietor Hy. B Sketch, whilst Kelly's Trade Directory for Monmouthshire 1884, gives Henry Bolt Sketch, Newport, and at Cwmbran.  Whether Henry Sketch produced bricks concurrently with the Woodside Brick Co logo and Sketch Cwmbran, or the Woodside Brick Co eventually passed into other hands, is unclear.  Photos and info by Lawrence Skuse.

Slate

Found in Pembrokeshire.  I believe it was made at Porthgain.


E G Smith, Abertillery



Photo by Michael Kilner

South Rhondda

Produced by the colliery company of the same name, closed in 1927, see
http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/GlamEast/South_rhondda_llanharen.htm





Photos by Richard Paterson.

Southwood Jones, Risca



This shaped brick was found at Ochrwyth, Pontymister. Taken from the remains of an old demolished shed that was built of salvaged bricks - most likely from the former Pontymister steelworks.  The brick has signs of "smelt" on it.  Photo by Richard Clarke.





Photos by Richard Paterson.  Made at the Danygraig works, S J is Southwood Jones - refer to the entry for Graigddu.

Photo by Frank Lawson.


Star Brick & Tile Co.

A former employee of the Star Brick & Tile Co on Llantarnam Road in the 1970s has stated that Star Brick & Tile had factories in Ponthir (the Head Office), Malpas, Allt Yr Yn in Newport, Risca and Morriston, Swansea. Kelly's of 1881 lists 'The Star Brick and Tile Co Ltd, Llanvihangel-Llantarnam' (on Llantarnam Road, Cwmbran); in 1937 Kelly's lists 'Star Brick & Tile Co Ltd, Llantarnam Road, Cwmbran; Caerleon, Newport; and Risca, Newport'. The DOQ 1941-42 lists 'Star Brick & Tile Co Ltd', in the DOQ 1957-58 there is an entry 'Star Brick & Tile Co Ltd; works: Penrhos works, Caerleon; Malpas Road, Newport; Altyryn, Newport; Waunvawr Works, Risca, Llantarnam Works'. The DOQ for 1973 is the last entry for the Star Brick & Tile Co, although 'National Star Ltd Newport' continues to be mentioned up until the IDWM for 1978, its last entry.  Towards the end of the group in the 1970s, bricks were being produced with the generic die "National Star Newport" and small letters to the lower left or right of the stamp to indicate the works of origin. It is believed that the letter "G" denoted bricks from the former Graig Morriston works, "RC" for Risca (Waunfawr), "L" for Llantarnam (Cwmbran), "C" for Caerleon (Ponthir) which also became the group's HQ at the present day Star Trading Estate.  Thanks to Lawrence Skuse for the information.

Spotted at the Big Pit museum in Blaenavon.  Made in Llantarnam Road, Cwmbran, Monmouthshire.  The company was in business until 1973.

Photo by Guy Morgan.

Photo by John Harrison.

Photo by Phil Burgoyne.

Photos by Frank Lawson.

Thanks to Richard Paterson for the photos, made at the Ponthir works.

An early example from the Star Brick Co, almost certainly from the Allt-yr-Yn works, thanks to Richard Paterson.

An example made at RC (Risca). Photo by Trevor Platt whose house in Banstead, Surrey is made from these bricks.


Photos by Richard Paterson



Found at Ochrwyth, Pontymister by Richard Clarke.





Photos by Richard Paterson



 Made in Gower. Photo by Phil Burgoyne.


Stephens





Both bricks seem to say 'Stignic' and were found by Vivian Summers in Kidwelly where they were made.  Kidwelly Brick Works to the north of Kidwelly station was opened c.1858 by William Edwards of Swansea. This site ceased operation in c.1903. A new works was built to the south of of the railway station by Alderman Daniel Stephens which opened in 1903. Stephens worked silica from Mynydd y Garreg and this was brought into the works via train. Up to 1927 the firm was known as Stephens & Co, but later as Stephens Silica Brick Co Ltd. The works closed in 1965.

Vivian writes: By coincidence I have been looking at a local book today about Kidwelly History and in one section about Shipping it relates to vessels loading fire bricks in the 1880s.  In August 1885 a 77 ton schooner, "Lindal Moor", sailing from Kidwelly to Workington, loaded with bricks, was beached in the river estuary with a large hole in the bottom.  Nothing is mentioned about what happened to the bricks.  "Quite a few vessels were loading bricks at this time, at least one or two foreign destinations, such as Hamburg".  There is evidence of one ship, the "Paul Of Hamburg", wrecked in the same stretch of river many years ago.  It's little wonder that the brickworks closed and the shipping finished in Kidwelly.

Brian Williams adds:   Stephens of Kidwelly were specialist manufacturers of refractory bricks, and were still in business in the 1960s. They used silica quarried at various locations on Mynydd-y-Garreg, and the stone was brought by the Gwendraeth Valley Railway to the brickworks.I did some fieldwork on both the qurries and the railway for my A-levels.



One of several in the wall of an old outbuilding at Ochrwyth, Pontymister.  Photo by Richard Clarke



Found in Edinburgh, photo by Mark Cranston.

Photos by Ian Suddaby.


T Stokes

Made by Thomas Stokes at his Wiseman's Bridge Brickworks near Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire. Photo by Gary Davies


J & W Stone

J & W Stone, Blaina brickworks, Blaina, Monmouthshire. The Stone brothers acquired the North Blaina Colliery in 1883 and will have produced this at the brickworks nearby.Photo and info by David Hernon.


Stormy S & B Co.



Made by the Stormy Stone and Brick Company which operated from premises alongside the railway line near Tranch, Pyle.  Photo and info by Mike Stokes.

Stourbridge Fireclay Co.



Found in Upper Cwmbran, Torfaen on the site of the former brickworks, originally opened as the Stourbridge Fireclay Co in 1837/8. The brick works was first opened here to exploit the fireclay found when the nearby Porthmawr Adit or 'Clay Level' was opened in 1837.  Since this clay was considered to be equal to the renowned Stourbridge fireclay, this works was founded as the Stourbridge Fireclay Co by a Mr Ebenezer Rogers, and the first foreman was brought in from Stourbridge.  The output was 110,000 firebricks per week. By 1854 the Stourbridge Co. no longer had an interest in the works.  Photo and info by Lawrence Skuse.

Photo by Phil Jenkins.


Stradd

Photographed at the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.


Swansea

Swansea Brickwork's operated in Swansea between 1921 - 1957 when it was demolished. The Morriston South Industrial Estate now sits on the former brickworks site.  Info by David Wood.



Photo by Geraint Daniels



Photo by courtesy of the Richard Symonds collection.

Swansea Siemens Brick Co. Landore



This brickworks produced silica bricks for the company's steel works. The 1897 map shows that the named Siemens Brick Works was situated next to the River Tawe in Landore. Info & Photo by Martyn Fretwell.


Welsh bricks T to Z
Return to the Wales index page