Brickworks in Dedham.<1>

Brickfield south, south east of Barrett’s Farm, East Lane (then called Pig Lane).

Dates: c1860 and 1870’s at least.

Operators: David Wright, c1860’s.
William Wright, c1870’s.

Products; Bricks.

Further Information:
David Wright was also a brickmaker at New Writtle Road, Chelmsford circa late 1860’s and William Wright was also a brickmaker at New Writtle Street/Lower Anchor Street, Chelmsford at the same time. During the 1840’s a George Wright was a brickmaker at Springfield Street, Chelmsford who was probably related to David and William Wright. According to the 1871 census for Dedham, William Wright, aged 52, a brickmaker living at East Street, was born in Elmswell, Suffolk. The same census records another William Wright, aged 67, a retired brickmaker, living a t Castle Hill, Dedham also born at Elmswell. There are references to the following Wrights at Elmswell who were brickmakers during the nineteenth century:-
George Wright and Son.
George Robert Wright.
J Wright.
Reuben Wright.
Robert Wright.
Thomas Wright.
There were also several Wrights who were brickmakers at the adjacent village of Woolpit, where there were extensive brickworks. Their Dedham brickfield had one kiln and extensive clay pits.

Site Assessment:
The site of this brickworks on the west side of East Lane is still clearly identifiable. There is one dwelling and outbuildings near the road, behind which are deep depressions in the ground where clay pits once existed. Whilst there are no former brickworks, buildings above ground level , the prosepect of surviving foundations below ground level, in the grounds of the present house is good.

Further documentary research with intrusive works on site of significant buildings/structures.

Refs: Essex Directory, 1867.
Census return, 1871.
OS 25in. 1st Edn. 1875 (sheet 19.11).
Information kindly supplied by Graeme J. Pwerry, A.R.I.C.S.