After all it had a short life less than 40 years.
It was concentrated around the Oswald Road and Longford Road axis and was a continuation of the practice of extracting marl for farming and clay for brick making which went back to at least the early 17th century.
At the turn of the 19th century The Chorlton Land & Building Company Ltd was given permission to use the land. No doubt a reflection of the need to bricks for the new housing boom here in Chorlton which had been in full swing since the 1880s.
The Chorlton Land & Building Company reserved the rights to “Mines & Minerals” which was an important consideration because the clay pits for brick making were on Oswald Road. There were marl pits just behind where the library is now in 1841 and Brick Kiln Pits roughly where Longford runs into Oswald Road. In 1907 this had developed into a largest brick works behind the houses on Longford and Chepstow. St John’s School sits on what looks like the works buildings, while the clay pits seem to be where the playing fields are now.
It remains the only industrial development in the township and was given only a limited period to exploit the land. Neither of the two large landowners who had controlled the area since the late 18th century wanted to see industrial development preferring to maintain the old township as a place for residential settlement.
Location; Chorlton, Manchester
Picture; Brick works, corner of Longford Road and Manchester Road, A H Downes, 1958, m18034 Courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council. http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass
It was called Jacksons brick works and had a big chimney plus a large steam engine in the cellar which was flooded by the duck pond
ReplyDeleteHave you any information on the Chorlton Land and Building Company> My Grand mother, father and aunt had shares in the company in 1952. I just wondered what happened to the company and how long it had been in existence.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info, and especially the pic of the chimney! I'd heard about the brickworks from a chap who was on my paper round when I was 13. He cited it as being where Rye Bank Fields is now, so that's about consistent. He recalled everyone swimming in the disused pit in the summer - quite dangerous! It gives a possible clue but doesn't quite explain the break in the two Rye Bank Roads, where the fields are, which was my original line of enquiry. It's always mystified me, and now with Google Maps, you can even more clearly see that the two halves must have been joined at some point. Can you cast any light on this?
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work, sir!
Yes Jon, there were plenty of deaths recorded between the Wars in those clay pits. I rather think the split is down to different developers and perhaps even different landlords building at different times, made possibly more different because part was in the old township of Chorlton-cum-Hardy and the other in Stretford.
ReplyDeleteYes, he did say it was closed off due to such!
DeleteThat does seem sensible - I just wonder when and how...
Thanks again!
The advert on the corner shop was as much of a landmark to me as the brickworks chimney. I was always puzzled by the dog-zebra hybrid beast and the term mixed ovals meant nothing to me, even when explained in response to my question every time we passed it.
ReplyDeletemmmm That's why our Flats are called Jackson crt..on Ryebank rd x
ReplyDelete