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Project No 29

Penn Brickworks

Jan Holland

June 2008

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Table of ContentsPenn Brickworks .................................................................................................................................................................................... 3Site Plan.................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6Photographs ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 7References................................................................................................................................................................................................ 9Acknowledgements................................................................................................................................................................................ 9Copyright Notice .................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

FiguresFigure 1 1880 and 1901 OS Maps...................................................................................................... 3Figure 2 1917 and 1937 OS Maps...................................................................................................... 3Figure 3 Aerial Photograph of the area where Penn Brickworks once stood.................................. 4Figure 4 Cottages in Penn [1]............................................................................................................. 4Figure 5 Samuel Flavell ...................................................................................................................... 5Figure 6 Site plan derived from GPS readings.................................................................................. 6Figure 7 The pool ................................................................................................................................ 7Figure 8 A corner of the boiler platform............................................................................................ 7Figure 9 A corner of the boiler platform, close-up. .......................................................................... 8Figure 10 Part of a kiln ....................................................................................................................... 8

Project requested by Bev Parker, Wolverhampton Local History and Heritage Society.

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Penn Brickworks

The brickworks stood on the slopes of Colton Hills near the area known as the Seven Cornfields in the NE corner of Penn Common (390577E/295533N gr id re f 3919691295893 on www.oldmaps.co.uk). It was thought to have been built in 1890 (although there is reputed to be a house dating to 1846 which used these bricks), and closed by 1911.

Figure 1 1880 and 1901 OS Maps

Figure 2 1917 and 1937 OS Maps

Old OS maps show the progress of the works over time. The map of 1880 does not show the presence of the brickworks, 1901 shows a working site, 1917 a disused site and by 1937 the brickworks has disappeared again.

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Figure 3 Aerial Photograph of the area where Penn Brickworks once stood

An aerial photograph taken around 2006 (Figure 3) shows no visible sign of a brickworks having stood at this site. The map of 1901 shows the position of Carlton House and a gravel pit through which the road to the brickworks passes.

The owner of both the house and gravel pit was one James Lakin, a local entrepreneur and councillor and he may have been the builder of the brickworks. He owned Holly Cottage on the common in the 1880’s.

Figure 4 Cottages in Penn [1]

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The bricks were made of local clay and were very hard wearing. Customers could have the family name put on the bricks if they wished. Beacon View cottage, built around 1890 had the name Collins inscribed on the bricks for the grandfather of Len Collins, who was a milkman. The bricks were also used at Queen Victoria School, Bilston St, Sedgley which was built around 1897 and a house called Church View in School Road, Wombourne.

We know that Samuel Flavell, born 1/11/1838, worked as an underground manager at Corbyns coalmine (now in Dudley). He was still working there in 1887 although he bought Penn brickworks circa 1894 when he left the mine.The 1901 census tells us that he was owner and brick manufacturer and living with his son Harry at Gospel End street in Sedgley, although it was his son Arthur who worked with him at the brickworks (Arthur lived to be 96)

The brickworks was closed between 1909 and 1911 when it became too expensive to transport the bricks, and was eventually demolished in the 1930’s. Samuel died in 1927.

Figure 5 Samuel Flavell

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Site Plan

Penn Brickworks

295450

295500

295550

295600

295650

295700

390500 390550 390600 390650 390700 390750

OS Eastings

OS

No

rth

ing

s Platform

Kiln

Pool

Path

Figure 6 Site plan derived from GPS readings

This is a very limited site plan, its purpose is to indicate the relative positions of the boiler platform, pool and kiln when referring to the photographs.

We had hoped to record any existing brickwork but the existence of the boiler platform suggested there may be blue asbestos present so we did not pursue the matter further.

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Photographs

Figure 7 The pool

Figure 8 A corner of the boiler platform.

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Figure 9 A corner of the boiler platform, close-up.

Figure 10 Part of a kiln

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References1. http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/articles/PennCommon/Description.htm

AcknowledgementsCheryl Nicholls for information concerning her grandfather Samuel Flavell.Paul Collins who provided the OS maps.Google Earth.WAG Members

Chris Robinson Clive WestwoodJan Holland Martin Holland

Copyright NoticeThe contents of WAG Projects are copyright and may not be copied or stored in an information retrieval system without the prior permission of the WAG Chairman.