Production from 1860's to 1920's <1>

Operators: Nathaniel Saunders, senior. C1807 to 1895.
Nathaniel Saunders, junior. C1838 to 1914 and Ebenezer Saunders all trading as Nathaniel
Saunders and Son.

Dates: c1860 and 1870’s at least.

Products: Red bricks and tiles.

Further Information:
Nathaniel Saunders, senior, was born in Dedham c1807 and died 15th February, 1895. His son, Nathaniel Saunders, junior, was born there c1838 and died in Fitzroy Square, London on 11th April, 1914 leaving his son, Ebenezer Saunders to continue the various business interests. The Saunders family lived initially at Pound House and later at Hallfield House which is about a quarter of a mile north, north east of their Brick Field. Nathaniel Saunders, junior, lived latterly at Albany Cottage, Dedham. At Hallfield Works they operated their business of builders, carpenters and timber merchants. Hallfield Works and timber yard was immediately south of Hallfield House. They were also farmers at Pound Park and Hallfield Farms. In 1873 Mathaniel Saunders, senior, owned 18a 2r 10p of land in Dedham but the Saunders family acreage gradually increased over the years. After the closure of their Brick Field in Coopers Lane they still continued their farming activities and building business at Hallfield Works for some years. There was one rectangular kiln at the brickworks which was recorded as disused on the 1923 OS map although entries were listed in later Directories.

Site Assessment:
There is now a bungalow called Park Farm Lodge at the front of this site. The rear of this bungalow, being a long section at right angles to the road, appears to be on the site of the former brickmaking or drying sheds. Query: was the rear part of the bungalow converted from former brickworks buildings? Behind, and north west of the bungalow converted from former brick works depressions in the ground where clay was dug. Whilst there are no obvious former brickworks buildings above ground level there is a prospect of some remains below ground level particularly where the kiln once stood.

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

Refs: Essex Directories, 1863 to 1926.
Directory of Quarries, Sand Pits and Brickworks.
Kelly’s Directory of the Building Trades, 1929.
Return of Owners of Land, 1873
OS 25in. 1st Edn., 1875 (sheet 19.7) and OS 25in. 2nd Edn., 1904 (sheet 19.7).
Census returns 1861 and 1871.
Probate records, 1895 and 1914.