Vanished Industries - Brickworks and Mills

Photo:Star Lane today

Star Lane today

Photo:Stambridge Mill today

Stambridge Mill today

Photo:Battlesbridge Mill today

Battlesbridge Mill today

Photo:Ballards Gore - from bricks to golf

Ballards Gore - from bricks to golf

By Sue Horncastle

It is amazing to think that within living memory the work-places pictured here were thriving industries employing many people.

There were brickfields at Star Lane, Great Wakering; Cherry Orchard Lane, Stroud Green; Purdy's Farm, Rochford and Ballards Gore, Great Stambridge. All took advantage of the plentiful London clay lying just under the surface to provide the much needed bricks required for the rapid expansion of housing between the World Wars and until 30 or 40 years ago.

All are now derelict or redeveloped. Did you, or someone you know, work at any of those sites? Have you got photos or memories you can share with us on this page of the Archive?

The tide mills at Rawreth and Stambridge were first built hundreds of years ago to take advantage of the fast flowing rivers Crouch and Roach at their tidal and navigable limits. Both were still functioning until relatively recently. Originally built to mill locally grown corn for flour, in later years they produced animal feedstuffs from beans and barley.

The mill on the southside of the Crouch at Battlesbridge has been demolished but that on the north bank still gives a good idea of how it looked. The Stambridge mill was functioning more recently until a fire made it unviable.

Have you, or someone you know, got any photographs of the Rawreth mill? Maybe you have memories of the Thames barges bringing the corn and other produce to be milled at both Stambridge and Rawreth? Maybe you even worked in this industry?

Please get in touch if you can help us fill in the gaps in our records. Help us save yesterdays memories for future generations.

This page was added by Sue Horncastle on 27/01/2011.

Comments about this page

i used to live in the brick work cottages, cherry orchard lane, and all i know is the cottages were built approx 1860 - 1880 then about 45 years ago the kitchens were added on followed and 35 years ago they added the bathrooms. These houses were used as tied cottages for the brick workers and were low rent. I lived there when they built the main road and i had the job of liasing between the residents and builders

By tracy jarvis
On 22/10/2012

I was recently talking with Eric Mead who as a child lived in the cottages now known as Mayfair cottages in Gore Road. He recalls his father working at the brickworks and often used to go out to play "over the stones".

This was a big pile of stones which was the waste from the washing and refining process used when the clay dug from the pits which now form the water hazards on the golf course.

By Brian Pettitt
On 30/08/2012

Sue - In talking to Eric Purkiss he advised that the Ballards Gore Brickworks was known as Cater's Brickworks. I have yet to discover anything else about it but when I get to talk to Eric again I will see what else I can uncover. Note: this comment has been republished and now displays out of normal date order amongst the other comments on the page

By Brian Pettitt
On 24/03/2011

There was also an old brickworks situated at the back of the old Magnolia Works in Magnolia Rd. I believe there is now a large housing estate built over it. I used to play there and fish in some of the old workings that were filled with water. I later went on to work at Magnolia's and used to eat my lunch by the side of the water.

By Len Bickford
On 18/06/2012

Sadie, I suggest you look on line at a Census, to see who was living in your house at that time. The Census were held every 10 years from the middle of the 19thC except in wartime. It will also show their occupation. I think the cottages where you live were for the brickfield workers but it is worth checking.

By Sue Horncastle
On 23/02/2012

hi can anyone tell me anything about brickfield cottages cherry orchard lane and the brickworks behind, i only know the houses were used for the workers, i live in one of the houses and would love to know the history.

By sadie
On 05/12/2011

After talking to Brian Pettitt in the Shepherd and Dog this evening (5/10/2011) he told me about this website. My Grandfather, Walter Page, b. 1884, worked at the Star Lane Brickfield when he left school aged 12, so in 1897. He lived at "The Old Blacksmiths", now known as The Angel pub, at Parsons Corner, North Shoebury. He probably worked there until he joined the Royal Marines in 1914.

By John Chapman
On 06/10/2011

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