... My `Brick` Collection ..

Numerous Brickworks sprung up in the 19th century, due to the rapid growth in industry, combined with the influx of migrant workers and their need for homes; and of course the necessary ingredient to manufacture the bricks - `Clay`

A coal mine coal at Upper Cwmbran, opened in 1837 by Mr. Reginald J. Blewitt and named `Porthmawr` Colliery (`Porthmawr` - Welsh for `Great Gate`) ; whilst extracting coal an excellent quality clay was found within a sub layer, which upon investigation matched that of `Stourbridge Clay` discovered in a region of Staffordshire.

.. I fortunately `stumbled across` this remnant of a `Stourbridge Fire Clay Co.` brick whilst walking along the track adjacent to Ebeneezer Chapel at The Square - Upper Cwmbran ..

 .. For more info click  here  ..

.. Henry Parfitt ..

 Kelly's Trade Directory 1884 - entry:- Parfitt, Henry Pontnewydd and Cwmbran

Henry Parfitt  - 19th Century Brickmaker - Examples previously found in the structure of  Porthmawr Colliery (Upper Cwmbran) `Mine Slope`- Engine House, Fan House, Reservoir, Air shafts and  cottages near the Main Adit ( adj. Spring Vale Industrial Estate), houses in Pontnewydd,  also in the wall of an outbuilding, in the yard formerly used by the Edlogan Tin Plate works (Chapel Lane).

.. Early examples, have H. Parfitt inscribed in the side wall of the brick ..

.. `Wall remains` of the `Engine House` at `Mine Slope` Colliery - Upper Cwmbran, several bricks are stamped PARFITT CWMBRAN, others stamped with an `H` ..

.. A `yellow` coloured example of a `H. PARFITT CWMBRAN` brick ..

   

This red `PARFITT CWMBRAN` brick was photographed in the damaged wall section adjacent to `Fairces2` Public House (Pontnewydd) and the original `railway bridge` which now spans a section of Cwmbran Drive.

.. This example found near Pontnewydd Golf Club ..

N.b  In this example, the `N` in  Cwmbran is reversed !

For more interesting information on Henry Parfitt click  here

.. An example of a J.C.E brick which has one long `face` glazed in white ..

Several examples can be viewed in the `wall remains` of the `Engine House` at `Mine Slope` Colliery - Upper Cwmbran

 J.C.E is the initials of  John Coater Edwards (1828-1896) who followed his father into the `clay` business and traded as  J.C.Edwards & Co. of Acrefair (Wrexham);  the Company had works at three sites :-

It is reported that J.C.E. products, line the Panama Canal (South America); were used in the frontage of the Ibrox Stadium (Scotland); brickwork and mouldings at Blackpool Tower and  the Pier Head building (built 1895) in Cardiff (used by the BBC as a backdrop for their daily News programmes -2006).

Cyrus Hanson owned Henllys Mine and the Brick Works ..

..  Hanson Fireclay and Retort Works - Two Locks, Old Cwmbran .. Illustrated by Michael Blackmore  ..

.. Cyrus Hanson Brick Works opened in 1853 and used predominately `Fire Clay` from the Henllys mine. ..

 Slater's Trade Directory 1868 - entry:- Hanson, Cyrus (fire brick), Cwmbran

Steve Leman relates: My great grandfather moved to Cwmbran from Devon to work in the brickworks in the 1860�s.

I enclose a photograph of him and his gang at the brickworks taken some time between 1870 & 1890. In the 1881 census, Ty Coch Lane was just known as �near the brick yard�.

 `Brick gang` at  the Hanson Works  n.b. the wooden  `brick mould`

My great grandfather is the gentleman , seated in the centre, with the dark waistcoat and beard.

.. Another photograph around the same time period    . . . .n.b. the lady in the middle is holding the `brick mould `. .

.. Photograph contributed by Andrew Cruickshanks ..

Lawrence Skuse responds: This photograph shows the Hanson/Hill/Henllis Firebrick & Retort Works/PNB/GK/GKN/GKN DAHL brick works, now Gifford Close.

John Howard relates: The disused Monmouthshire / Brecknockshire Canal looking southward, downstream towards Ty-Coch and the Pentre hill

Garth Cottage can be clearly seen in the distance, where Andrew Light and his family lived in the early 1960s. In the foreground of this picture the canal is carried over the Dowlais brook via the aqueduct. The aqueduct is where many generations of Cwmbran people swam - indeed it was where my father learned to to swim in about 1920.

Judging by the chimney smoke the kilns are well fired-up in the GKN owned Refractory Brickworks.     Photograph  circa 1965.

Huigh Woodford relates: This photograph of the canal, taken from between Llandowlais Street and the aqueduct, looking downstream to what at the time was the brick works (now replaced by a housing estate - mainly Gifford Close). The white house on the left is Garth Cottage. Two of my buddies back in the 1960's lived there and I helped them clean out a mucky chicken shed soon after they moved in! I walked and cycled the towpath many times as a youngster between Ty Coch and Two Locks.

 

Anne Williams nee Woodford relates: This photograph   reminded me of  going home ! My  dad  would  sit me on the  crossbar of  his  bike to take me  home from  my Nan's and  we�d  ride  along the footpath on the  right of the  picture.  It�s the  view towards  Ty Coch from   Two  Locks. To the left of the   brickworks is   Vine  cottage  where , as  a  child, I  used  to go with my brother   to play with the  two  boys  who lived there. ( my  first   ever  introduction  to Scalextric).    Where  the canal  narrows  is where the  brook  runs   under the  canal . There   used to be  a  fallen  tree   across the brook which the older boys  would  walk  across, occasionally   falling in ! Lovely  picture !

 .. Ebenezer Baptist Chapel (erected 1860),on Two Locks road, Old Cwmbran - built with 500 tons of stone from a quarry above Henllys Mine and donated  by Cyrus Hanson ..

.. The home of Cyrus Hanson `Glan y Nant` Garth Road - Two Locks ..

.. Guest Keen & Nettlefolds (G.K.N) subsequently became the owners of the Henllys Mine ..

.. To read more interesting info on G.K.N click  here

An example of a G.K.N. DAHL brick, previously recorded as found beside the Great Western Buildings, near the canal, not far from Guest Keen & Nettlefolds (Now Cwmbran Retail Park ).

 

The three examples above were found in the Dowlais brook, Two Locks.     

.. Cwmbran Brick Company..

               The Brick Works is shown on a Cwmbran Street plan dated 1958 as being situated on land now occupied by the T. A centre (100 Field Squadron( Militia)) - Ty Coch Way

  Does  anyone have a `memory` or know when it closed?

.. An example of  Houses built of `Little Mill Pontypool` bricks can be found at  `The Crescent`- Old Cwmbran ..

.. Whitehead Brickworks - Oakfield .. Engine named `Whitehead` ..

..Three examples  from `WHITEHEAD`s of CWMBRAN ..

 Worrall's Trade directory 1875 - entry:- JC Hill & Co. Limited (and Fire Brick, Cwmbran)

 Whitehead Hill &  Co. Ltd took over from J.C.Hill & Co. in 1925

 Click on the poster to see an enlargement of a WHITEHEAD advertisement that appeared in a Trade Directory dated 1950 

* The Whitehead-Hill Brick Works also known as Llandowlais Brick Works was situated at the bottom end of Ty - Coch Way

.. The Brick Works is shown on a Cwmbran Street plan dated 1958 ..  Does  anyone have a `memory` or know when it closed?  

This photo taken circa 1960 shows the brickworks and the abandoned clay holes, these holes after filling with rain water were often used as swimming pools by the kids during the summer.

(Contributed by John Jenkins)

John Jenkins relates :Some trivia, my father who was a bricklayer built one of the two very tall chimneys that were required for the double row of kilns at the brickworks.
The attached photo taken circa 1960 shows the brickworks and the abandoned clay holes, these holes after filling with rain water were often used as swimming pools by the kids during the summer.
 
John Jenkins relates: On the excellent Website Industrial Monmouthshire Phil Jenkins states in the section Henllys and Oakfield that the 'red' brickworks in Llandowlais was and I quote, "opened shortly after the second world war, c1950", end quote. This is possibly incorrect, from what I remember living in Llandowlais Street from 1945 the brickworks opened earlier. I contacted my older brother who lived in Llandowlais Street from 1935 and asked his opinion, he also believes it was opened earlier, definitely before the end of the war in 1945, he also remembers talking to Italian prisoners of war who either worked at the brickworks or maybe helped in building it, (forced labour).
Some trivia, my father who was a bricklayer built one of the two very tall chimneys that were required for the double row of kilns at the brickworks.
The attached photo taken circa 1960 shows the brickworks and the abandoned clay holes, these holes after filling with rain water were often used as swimming pools by the kids during the summer.

... Photographed circa 1971 ..

Andrew Cruickshanks :- I lived opposite the entrance on Two Locks Road; Bowkett`s lorries took the bricks from the yard all over the country starting about 6.30 in the morning.
In the background you can see the "Iron Bridge" which carried the railway from the `white` yard, pass the cottages and Doble`s wood yard, over Llandowlais street into the Wire works.

.. The Railway Bridge ..

Date: 14th July 2012

I have an old family photo of a signing group from a brickworks dated 1898 titled 'Whiteyard singers'.

 
According to my mother her great grandfather, who I believe is in this photograph, was a Welsh singer, but looking through geneology records I cannot find he has Welsh blood but do find he was a brick maker. As your website contains the only reference I have been able to find to a 'white yard' in your section on the Whitehead brick works I wonder whether he ever worked in Wales at his trade and that is where my mother got the Welsh connection from, and if indeed there was ever a group calling themselves the Whiteyard singers linked to the Whitehead brick works.
 
Do you know of any way that I could find out more to either prove or disprove this link?
 
I would be very grateful for any pointers that you may be able to give me or any help you may be able to offer.
 
kind regards
 
Antoinette Spencer

Email: [email protected]

.. Whitehead Football Team - 1949/50 ..

Back Row (Left to right): Dennis Jones, Doug Eyre, Ron Moore, Paddy Donovan, Fred Price, Ken Eyre

Front Row (Left to right): ? . Dennis Davies, Don Compton, Albert Kembrey, Terry Owen

Team Colours: Red and White

.. Photograph contributed by Doug Eyre ..

.. `Whitehead` the Steam Engine  ..

 .. Whitehead simmers on shed at Blaenavon - September, 2011.   ..

 

Eugene Wheelwright relates the history of Whitehead since it left Cwmbran in 1966:

 

1966-1971 Owned by a Mr. Buncombe of Highbridge, Somerset. He kept it in his workshop at the rear of the filling station on the A38 in Highbridge.

 

1971-1982 In the ownership of a consortium of Great Western Society (Taunton Branch) members. Overhauled at Taunton and saw some use on the West Somerset Railway, eventually going into store at Minehead.

 

1982-present. Owned by my wife and I. Overhauled (1990-1996) at Southport, Lancs and saw use at Southport, Preston, Manchester, Barrow Hill, Midland Railway - Butterley, Wirksworth, and Ruddington.

 

We undertook another overhaul between 2007-2011 at the Midland Railway - Butterley and returned Whitehead to traffic in March, 2011.

It has worked regularly at Butterley during this year and two weeks ago (13-26th September) it returned to Wales for the first time in 46 years in order to take part in the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway's "Industrial Steam of South Wales" gala.

 

`Whitehead` leaving  Blaenavon High Level station and prepares for the steep gradients to the Whistle Inn.

.. September 2011 ..
Colin Bowen relates: Reference the steam loco whitehead, the locomotive itself was built by  Peckett and sons of Bristol.  
In 1908 works number 1163. It once belonged to the Swansea Harbour trust and in the 1930s was sold to the whitehead wire Works of Cwmbran 
The loco itself is still running around after more then 100 years
In September this year it was at Blaenavon heritage railway centre, for the welsh industrial steam weekend the loco's normal home is at Midland Railway Centre, Derbyshire

 .. `Whitehead` at work  ..

Malcom Howlett relates:- `WHITEHEAD` is pictured waiting to cross Llandowlais Street, heading for the brickworks; my uncle, Jack Treherne, is nearest to the engine.

.. `Whitehead` 1966 ..

`Whitehead` about to cross the canal at Two Locks on the old "Iron" bridge after leaving the "White" Brickworks in Ty-coch, the photo was taken in 1966 which was the last year the loco's operated in Cwmbran.

Dave Compton relates: I used to live in  2 Locks and used to see that train every day. I also saw it whilst on holiday in the 1980s on the Minehead to Taunton line.
 

Ralph and Margaret Williams relate: This is the train that went back and forth to the Henllys Brick Works. It took clay to the brickyard, and it came back with ashes to be tipped at the back of Bellevue Road. When we were kids we used to pick the cokes for our own house or sell them to the local people in the street.

Kenneth Beake relates: My father was a fitter at G.K.N and sometimes worked on it, as kids living in Abbey road the driver knowing dad would sometimes let us ride on the foot plate from the gate through the `acid field` across Llandowlais street gated crossing and down to the bridge. We were left there to play climbing across the canal in the outer box sections of the bridge as we were,nt allowed to ride into the brick works, sometimes we would ride back on return trip or go up hill street and play on the tips.

The locomotive `Whitehead` preparing  to join the Eastern Valley "goods line", (now Cwmbran Drive), Abbey Road is in the background (the houses now demolished)..

A unused Railway `wagon  label` that would have been attached to a 16 Ton, wagon of coal, transported from Hafodrynys to it's destination at Star Brick Co. Llantarnam Works.

 The `coal wagon` would have been transported to Pontypool Rd. Station and hitched up to the `Cwmbran Pilot`, the local pickup/drop off train, for next day delivery.

This `Yellow` brick from the works of the Ebbw Vale Steel, Iron and Coal Co. Limited,  can usually be found embellishing `window surrounds` or as a `decorative line feature, within the outside wall of a house or shop in Pontnewydd, Pontrhydyrun or Old Cwmbran

 

.. SOUTHWARD JONES - A former Brickworks at Pontnewynydd ..

.. This brick came from a derelict building at the bottom of Chapel Lane, Croesyceiliog ..

An example of this `S J GRAIG DDU BRITISH MADE` brick, previously recorded as `found` at Upper Cwmbran.

Peter Southwood Jones who resides in Canberra , Australia  relates:- The brick was a fire brick manufactured by Southwood Jones and Co. Ltd.  The company owned the Graig Ddu Works near Pontypool and also the Danygraig Works at Risca near Newport, as well as the Graig Ddu fireclay mines.

Your brick would have made produced at the Graiggdu Works as the bricks produced at the Danygraig Works had SJ RISCA stamped on them.

As you may know, firebricks were used to line blast furnaces, kilns etc.

The company was established by my great grandfather, Edwin Southwood Jones, in 1895.  Later, my grandfather, Lionel Southwood Jones ran the company. Following Lionel's death in 1960, the company shut down about two years later.  At that time, it was unable to compete with the much larger manufacturers, particularly those in Scotland.

 Click on the poster to see an enlargement of Southwood Jones advertisement that appeared in  John's Newport Trade Directory dated 1905 

 This Private Owners wagon, in the light grey livery of Southwood Jones & Company Ltd. was allocated to the Graig Ddu Works, Pontnewynydd and served by the Great Western Railway.

Nathan Blanchard: I recently (May 2009) came across this Graig-Ddu brick, it was located on the south side of the Pontypool road bridge (No53) at the junction of the towpath and the path leading to the road. As I recall there appeared to be quite a few in the vicinity and were probably used to reinforce the path at some point but in a rather haphazard manner.

.. Does anyone know where this Brick Works once stood ? ..

.. Both sides  shown  ..

N.b  The first `N` in PONTNEWYDD is reversed !

.. This brick came from a chimney stack that was being removed at the Apollo Television Shop 58-60 Victoria Street- Old Cwmbran ..

Another example found in the area adjacent to Pontnewydd Golf Course ( Jan. 2007 ); it would appear that either Davies Co. succeeded A.H.James & Co. or vici verci

.. Both sides  shown  ..

Photographed at the  Lock Keeper's cottage, April 2012 - Greenhill Road, Cwmbran.
The cottage, dating from around c. 1800, is undergoing renovation and was located alongside the Woodside and Greenmeadow brick works

 .. Pontnewydd Brick Co. Mon. ..

 .. Woodside Brick Co. Cwmbran ..

Woodside Brick Works was once situated, where today is the recreational ground at the bottom of Maendy Way, adjacent to Woodside Terrace.

.. Both sides  shown  ..

.. The example came from a repaired garden wall in Pontnewydd, the house dates from approximately 1900 ..

This example was found in the area adjacent to Pontnewydd Golf Course ( March 2008 )

Another  `Woodside` example also found in the area adjacent to Pontnewydd Golf Course ( Jan. 2007 )

.. Both sides  shown  ..

.. Cross hatched bricks were typical of stable bricks, to give a non-slip footing to horses ..

.. The Brick Works is shown on a Cwmbran Street plan dated 1958 ..  Does  anyone have a `memory` or know when it closed?

.. This example found in the area adjacent to Pontnewydd Golf Course ( Jan. 2007 )

.. Both sides  shown  ..

Worrall`s Trade Directory 1875 shows Henry Bolt Sketch as the proprietor of Woodside Brick Co, Cwmbran

Kelly`s Trade Directory 1884 - entry:- Sketch, Hy. Bolt Newport and at Cwmbran

Kelly`s Trade Directory 1914 - entry:- Standard Brick Co. Ltd, Woodside Road.

 .. W. J. SCOURSE & SON ..

WOODSIDE - CWMBRAN MON.

Contributor L.Skuse

This example was `discovered`17th February, 2008 on the track that runs up the side of Mynydd Maen, near the Forest Plantation. (Blaen Bran Community Woodland)

South Wales & Monmouthshire Directory & Buyers Guide 1907, Publisher E Cope & Co, Walsall

 Kelly's Trade Directory 1914 - entry:- Star Brick & Tile, Llantarnam Road

.. This brick came from a demolished wall at the rear of  `Fairces2` Public House - Pontnewydd ..

.. Star Brick & Tile Works Cwmbran ..

Situated on land opposite Cwmbran Cemetery, Llantarnam Road adjacent to the Eastern Valley railway line

.. The Brick Works is shown on a Cwmbran Street plan dated 1958 ..

This photograph, circa 1950`s and contributed by Lynn Thomas, shows the `old clay pit` which was on outskirts of Ty Coch
The buildings in the background are the Star brickworks, to the right was the railway line (now Cwmbran drive) to the left is Ty Coch. It was the council tip, & is now Ty Coch ind. estate.

This photograph, circa 1950`s and contributed by Lynn Thomas, shows the `old clay pit` which was on outskirts of Ty Coch
The buildings in the background are the Star brickworks, to the right was the railway line (now Cwmbran drive) to the left is Ty Coch. It was the council tip, & is now Ty Coch ind. estate

.. Several contributors examples ..

Kelly's 1906 Trade Directory : CWMBRAN BRICK C0. LTD.  Llantarnam Road

Tile Dimensions: 6" x  6" x 1"

Tile Dimensions: 6.5" x  6.5" x 1"

Tile Dimensions: 6/6/16"  x 6/6/16" x  1/4/16"

Tile Dimensions: 6"  x 6 " x  1.07 inches

.. Photographs contributed by L.Skuse ..

.. GWENT PIPE & FIRE-BRICK CO. LTD, Pontnewydd ..

 

        This  8 inch/200 mm diameter, glazed earthenware `cap` was found in the gravel along the banks of the Afon Llwyd, near the Oasis Leisure centre- Cwmbran.

.. GWENT PIPE & FIRE-BRICK CO. LTD, PONTNEWYDD ..

 This `complete` example 5 inch/125mm in diameter, was contributed by Grant Muter from Abergavenny

.. GWENT PIPE & FIRE-BRICK CO. LTD, Pontnewydd ..

This example was recently extracted (December 2008) from the Avon Llwyd by the Glanyravon Fitness Centre, just below the site of the `old pipeworks`.   Gwent Stoneware.  The item looks like it's part of a sump or some sort of sanitary unit.

The works  was situated adjacent to the river Afon Llwyd, off Afon Terrace; the site has  recently been redeveloped into a housing estate named: Stonebridge(2007)

 Webmaster: Does anyone know when the Company closed?

 Ralph Williams responds:  I worked at the Star Brick and Tile Cwmbran for 9 years between 1955 to 1964 as a Moulder; in those days we only made Sewerage Pipes and fittings for the Building Industry. In 1964 it closed down when it was taken over by Hepworth Pipe and the work transferred to the Gwent Pipe Works in Lower Pontnewydd. I and a few others were transferred as well. I stayed until it ceased production in 1974. The Star Brick and Tile had factories in Ponthir (Head Office), Malpas, Allt-yr-yn (Newport), Risca and Morriston near Swansea.

... This example found in the area adjacent to Pontnewydd Golf Course ( Jan. 2007 ) - manufacturer's details unknown ..

  Update 6th June 2011 : John Bourn, I live in Brynna, near Bridgend and have started collecting old bricks just recently. The brick that you've listed as found adjacent to Pontnewydd Golf Course ( Jan. 2007 ) details unknown,  is I believe a Coedely. In this area there are quite a number and the vast majority are as yours, with the first and last digits missing. I recently retired and fast becoming an amateur anorak .... any tips.!!!   

.. An example of a `Jones Darran No.1 Risca` brick found near the Cwmbran Retail Park ..

.. An example of a locally manufactured `Common` fire clay brick ..

s

.. An example of a Cwmbran Fire Clay Co. brick ..

Both examples were found in the wooded area above Graig Road - Upper Cwmbran

This just a curiosity, on one face there are three finger prints and on the other face the corresponding thumb print where the moulder or someone else has carelessly handled the moulded brick

A  collection of bricks that were unearthed in June 2013 at Ty Coch ; in a 3 day investigation/restoration, which was part of  `The Canal Waterways Restoration Project`

 Has anyone heard of William's  Brick Works ?.... Question: Where was the Brick Works situated?  

 Kelly's Trade Directory 1884 - entry:- Bailhache, Clement & Meacher, Pontnewydd 

Could this be the  link? (source WIKIPEDIA) Sir Clement Meacher Bailhache (2 November 1856 � 8 September 1924) was an English commercial lawyer and judge. Born Leeds; He initially practised as a solicitor in Newport, Monmouthshire.

 .... Question: Where was the Brick Works situated?

 Kelly's Trade Directory 1884 - entry:-Jenkins, A Llanfrechva Lower, Newport .... Question: Where was the Brick Works situated?

.. Please click here if you have any information or memories concerning any of the above ..

    I hope you have enjoyed viewing my `Brick collection` and please believe me folks, when I say "I am not an `Anorak` but I do confess to owning  an ex- Nato `Parka`

 .. Hmmmm, maybe I'll show you my `Milk Bottle collection` complete with `advertisements` .. sometime ? 

   Click here to view a superb collection of photographs and information by local brick collector  Lawrence Skuse