Monument record 8406/2 - C19th Brickworks (Cogenhoe Iron Ore Co.)

Clay extraction was started in the 1870s. The brickyard was operated by The Cogenhoe Iron Ore Company. In 1886 the workings became the property of G Cohen, but the concern folded during the slump of the 1880s.

{1} The brickyard was operated by The Cogenhoe Iron Ore Company.

{3} The Cogenhoe concern was quite a big one for its day and in addition to the ironstone quarrying a considerable amount of clay was also dug, a brickworks being erected close to the LNWR junction. The slump of the 1880s however proved too much and business closed on 16th July 1888. As well as auctioning the rolling stock the track was lifted and the brickworks were razed to the ground. The site of the brick pit is denoted by a bulrush-filled pond.

[4} The Cogenhoe Iron Ore Co. commenced mining iron ore in the area to the south of the village in 1858 (see E.S. Tonks : The Ironstone Railways and Tramways of the East Midlands pp 44-6) and at some stage between then and 1877 it was decided to exploit also the clay being dug. A standard gauge railway connection had been made with the Northampton-Peterborough line for the ironstone workings and the brickworks was erected on a branch to the west from this. At the eastern end of the site was a small pit. There appears from the 1883 6" O.S. map to have been an unloading shed, a long production and drying shed and three kilns. One of these is a small circular structure and is therefore probably a circular downdraught kiln. The remaining two may well have been rectangular downdraughts. In 1886 the workings became the property of G. Cohen, but they went down in the slump of the 1880s. The equipment was auctioned in 1888 and the brickworks razed to the ground.

<1> STARMER G., List of Industrial Sites in Northamptonshire (Various, Including N.R.I.M.), (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN1444.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1880s, First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 Inch Mapping Series (45.12), (part checked) (Map). SNN75169.

<3> Tonks E., 1989, The Ironstone Quarries of The Midlands (History, Operation and Railways): The Northampton Area, p.128-33 (checked) (Book). SNN47272.

<4> O'Rourke R., 1970, Some Northamptonshire Brickworks, p. 13 (Article). SNN103347.

Record last edited

Sep 12 2024 12:34PM