~ Gallery - Industrial ~
Brick Works
Waterfield, Fire-brick Manufacturers, Upper Gornal
This brick works was situated near to the top of and bordering Jews lane, and adjacent to E.P. Cartwright's brick works.
The brick-works was established here by William Waterfield as early as 1850 where he is listed in a trade directory as a brick manufacturer, the business was subsequently carried on by members of the Waterfield family since that time.
By 1907 William and John Hodgetts Waterfield were now partners in the brick-works and as farmers, the family moving to Roberts Green Farm, in Jews Lane.
It appears that Waterfield's brick-works closed after it was sold off in the in the early 1930s.
More on the Waterfield family of Jews Lane can be found here.
A brick-works and colliery may have existed on this site before the 1840s due to the abundance of fire clay and other resources.
it appears that Waterfield's proposed to move their concern to their main colliery at Pensnett.
The following extract about Waterfield's brick-works comes from a 1903 book entitled 'The Black Country and its industries', the full text also deals with John Waterfield's quarry at Holloway, Lower Gornal.
Messrs. Waterfield and Son manufacture a large quantity of flue covers and boiler sealing blocks, perforated bricks, cupola circle bricks, rabbeted and other quarries, tiles and other goods. The firm has constant orders for special kinds of cupola bricks which have been carefully designed and made according to a specified size and different shape. A great saving in fuel has been discovered through an arrangement at these works of utilising the exhaust steam from the huge boilers in heating the brick instead of employing the usual methods. The steam is led into compartments that run underneath the works and heats the floor on which the moulded bricks are laid to be hardened by a process of slow heating, in which they acquire their great fire resisting qualities.
The premises are fitted with every convenience and contain a blacksmiths' shop and similar accommodation. There is stabling for about twenty horses on one side of the yard, while on the other commodious offices have been built, the whole covering an extensive area of ground. Though space will not permit us giving an exhaustive description of the works, their importance should be once more referred to, and in order to impress the fact we might state that there is as many as one hundred and twenty hands employed by the firm both at the brick-works and quarries.
1929 Sale notice: Sheffield Daily Telegraph - 16 May.
John Waterfield & Son Limited, Upper Gornal, Staffordshire.
These Freehold Works have been established about seventy years, and are situated within a few yards of the main Wolverhampton and Dudley Road.
The Works site, containing 2 acres, 3 roods 6 perches, has frontage to Jews Lane of 398 feet. The erections consist of:-Well-built Offices and Weigh Office with five-ton Weighbridge. There is a brick-built Mill, Engine House with Horizontal Steam Engine, Clay Grinding Mill, Tempering Pan and two Clay Elevators; brick-built seven-bay Drying Sheds, with a total floor area 13,695 feet super, and 1,852 yards of wrought-iron piping for economical heating of these Sheds.
There is a capital range of brick-built Stabling for 13 horses, brick and stone-built Garage for Lorries and Cars; Bowser Petrol Pump and a Petrol Tank for 1,000 gallons is also installed.
1851, William Waterfield, brick manufacturer, Upper Gornal. [Melville Trade Directory]
In 1865, he is described as a mining agent and fire-brick maker. [Jones Merchantile Directory]
W.H. Waterfield, Fire Brick Works, Gornal. [1879]
Trading as W.H. Waterfield between 1875 & 1885, thereafter as John Waterfield and lastly as John Waterfiled & Son.
1931, Dudley Chronicle, 19 February.
TUESDAY. FEBRUARY 24th. 1931
FREEHOLD FIREBRICK AND FIRECLAY WORKS,
JEWS LANE, UPPER GORNAL,
Near WOVERHAMPTON & DUDLEY.
. WILLIAM PEARSON, F.S.I., F.A.I.
has received instructions from Messrs. John Waterfield and Son Ltd., who have transferred their old established Firebrick and Fireclay Business to their Works at Kingswinford in close proximity to their Collieries, to SELL BY AUCTION upon the above date at the Works, the very:-
FREEHOLD WORKS SITE,
together with well built OFFICES, STABLING, GARAGES, WORKSHOPS, EXTENSIVE DRYING SHEDS, KILNS, ENGINE HOUSE, FIXED AND LOOSE PLANT, OFFICE FURNITURE, Etc.
The Works Site occupies an area of about 2¾ acres with an extensive frontage to Jews Lane. The Property is situated just off the Road from Wolverhampton to Dudley. being about 4 miles from Wolverhampton and 1½ miles from Dudley.
The above will be first submitted as ONE LOT and if not so sold will be offered as follows:-
The Works Site with permanent Erections, then the Kilns, Fixed and Loose Plant, Machinery, etc., in Lots.
It seems that the sale of the brick works in 1929 was not successful as the sale re-appeared in 1931.
When the works closed, the land was re-developed and now forms part of the present Dormston trading estate off Burton Road.
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