Northcot, one of the oldest independent brickmakers in the country, has been celebrating its 100th anniversary with a series of exclusive Open Days in the heart of the Cotswolds.
During the summer, over 150 architects, planners, conservation specialists, and supporters of high-quality brickmaking gathered at the brickworks to learn about the company’s unique contribution to building conservation.
A traditional brickmaking experience!
Visitors were introduced to the remarkable history of a company founded by Sir Winston Churchill’s cousin in 1925. Highlights included behind-the-scenes factory tours, where they could experience what is sometimes described as a ‘working museum.’
They saw the original old 1919 ‘Pan Mill’ processing clay for the handmades, an extensive collection of bespoke moulds dating back many decades, and they even had the chance to make their own ‘signed brick’ by pressing the clay into sanded timber frame moulds. This hand-throwing technique has hardly changed over the centuries – and, as they discovered, it’s not as easy as it looks!
These age-old skills have built some of England’s finest brick buildings - both ancient and modern - skills that Northcot has honed to perfection.
This exceptional craftsmanship has enabled the company to produce bespoke blends for many award-winning conservation projects, including the restoration of Battersea Power Station, Radley College Chapel Extension, and the renowned Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings, which dates back to the Industrial Revolution.
Dedication to building conservation
As one of the oldest building materials in the world, brickwork is a vital part of our architectural heritage.
Centuries ago, nearly every town had a brickworks or brickmaker who shaped bricks by hand from local clay, then fired them to bring out their unique qualities. This led to subtle differences in colour and texture across the country.
Sadly, with the onset of mechanisation, most small regional brickworks have long since closed or been taken over by larger manufacturers who mass-produce modern standardised brick types more cheaply if in consistent, uniform colours.
Through its dedication to traditional craftsmanship, Northcot has not only survived but thrives as one of the few manufacturers still able to match those historic regional brick types.
A revelation and an inspiration
For many visitors, the ‘Northcot experience’ was a revelation and a source of inspiration. Rebecca Thurgood, Associate Director at LHC Design, said:
It was fascinating to learn about the craft of brick making at the works that not only supplied the original bricks for Battersea Power Station, but also provided matching bricks for its recent regeneration. It’s a sobering thought that there are now so few UK brickmakers left with Northcot’s capabilities. It was great to have a go at making a brick, and I now realise the immense skill involved!
Architects and heritage consultants interested in Northcot’s manufacturing and bespoking capabilities (and make their own handmade brick!) contact sales@northcotbrick.co.uk or 01386 700 551 for an appointment.
Image captions:
top - historic clay brick moulds
middle - visitors learn to make bricks
bottom - specially made centenary plaque