Report - London Brick Company - Stewartby, Bedord - October 2024

[Sewage_waste]

History

Foundation and Growth
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The London Brick Company was established in 1889 during Britain's Industrial Revolution by John Cathles Hill, a developer-architect based in Fletton, Huntingdonshire. Hill's identified the extensive Oxford Clay deposits across Bedfordshire as a prime resource for mass-producing Fletton bricks and a promising economic opportunity. Through strategic acquisitions of land and existing brickyards in the early 20th century, the company was able to rapidly scale up its operations and the 1923 merger with B.J. Forder & Son, led by the influential Stewart family, solidified the company's dominant position in the Fletton brick market. The merger also initiated the planned expansion of Stewartby as a dedicated company town reminiscent of Victorian Quaker-built towns following a paternalistic model providing comprehensive infrastructure for its workforce, encompassing housing, educational institutions, and recreational facilities

Peak Production
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Stewartby Brickworks soon became an emblem of the British industrial capability, its skyline defined by the towering 90-metre chimneys. By 1936, the site had reached its operational peak, becoming recognised as the largest brick factory in the world. Employing over 2,000 individuals, it achieved an annual production of 500 million bricks, supplying enough bricks to build 60,000 homes a year. Fletton bricks, manufactured from the unique Oxford Clay from the are, were renowned for their consistent quality, affordability (thanks to reduced fuel costs during the firing process) and distinct yellowish-brown hue, a direct result of the clay's high carbonaceous content. The London brick company also pioneered the use of large-scale dragline excavators and housed the world's largest continuous kilns, further revolutionising brick manufacturing and establishing its power in the brick industry. These bricks became fundamental to UK construction, utilised in projects ranging from Buckingham Palace, the British Museum and Battersea Power Station to repairing countless homes and industrial buildings in the aftermath of the Second World War. By the 1970s, Bedfordshire, largely due to Stewartby's output, contributed 20% of England's total brick production, playing a pivotal role in the national economy and becoming synonymous with the term "London Brick" itself which despite the factory's closure just under two decades ago still remains synonymous with the company to this day.

Decline, Closure, and Present day​

During the latter half of the twentieth century, the factory began to face significant challenges. Changes in construction techniques and increasingly stringent environmental regulations led to a decline in demand for the traditional London bricks. Despite considerable financial investment in emissions reduction technologies, exceeding £1 million between 2005 and 2007, Stewartby Brickworks ultimately ceased operations in 2008. The slow downfall and eventual closure of the brickworks triggered a stark decline in the town's fortunes, exemplified by the population decrease from over 1600 in 1951 to 1100 by 2011, causing economic hardship and loss of identity. However, in recent years the population of Stewartsby has signicantly increased to over 2500 and combined with ambitious proposals for the land such as a Universal studios theme park and mixed use development the town is showing signs of recovery. However, the future of the site still remain shrouded in uncertainty with no concrete plans or developments having been put forward.

The Explore​

Being situated less than a stone's throw from the Stewartby train station, the journey to the site was quick and relaxed, where we were the only passengers onboard having the whole train to ourselves - a reflection if the rapid economic decline in Stewartsby (and the fact it was a late Tuesday morning). Access to the main site was simple taking mere minutes, with very little if any security present. Once inside, the colossal size of the site became apparent and we began what we knew would be a long exploration. We progressed methodically across the site, making our way from the northernmost section down to the south end, hopping between buildings and clambering over piles of bricks. Now left to the elements and vandals, the site is a shell of its former glory. Daylight pokes through cracks, wooden floors squelch underfoot, and the sheet metal structure howls in the wind. Vines, thick undergrowth, and even small trees have established themselves, breaking through the concrete base and growing within the empty building husks, reclaiming the land. Vandals and teenagers have also left their mark, with graffiti tags plastered across almost every surface and several haphazard swings installed on the decaying structures. Yet, despite this, the remaining skeletons still retain an essence of the giant's formidable industrial past, with equipment like the mortar hoppers and warehouse crane still standing despite it all.

With the sun having long set and the winter chill beginning to set in, feeling satisfied with ourselves we decided to call it a day.

Photographs

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Thanks for reading​

 

[The Young One]

Never heard of it

 

[albino-jay]

Good report that and great photo’s. I didn’t realise all the chimneys had now gone.

Could you please just add the month of your visit to the thread title as per our rules. Thanks.

 

[Sewage_waste]

Good report that and great photo’s. I didn’t realise all the chimneys had now gone.

Could you please just add the month of your visit to the thread title as per our rules. Thanks.

Cheers. I’ve updated the title now sorry about that, was writing this one late at night knew I’d forgotten something.

Never heard of it

Yeah it’s a real under the radar spot this one …