Brick, Tile and Pipe Works in Littleborough
Until the middle of the 19th Century local houses and factories were made out of stone with the remains of quarries still showing on Blackstone Edge and Clegg Moors and around Calderbrook and Rock Nook. Although there were earlier brick buildings, the Brick Tax introduced in 1784 by William Pitt the Younger to help raise funds for the wars against France. On its repeal there was a surge in the use of brick which resulted in numerous brick works being opened in Littleborough. Another factor was the requirement to provide improved drainage to counter disease - See General Historical Background below which led to new works which concentrated on making clay pipes for home and export markets. Not all not all of the brick and pipe operated at the same time but all have now closed with their scant remains, clay pit scars on the hillside in Summit, a flat site adjacent to the road into Whittaker and Timbercliffe. At other sites there were no pits as the clay came from underground workings. Now there location is lost under housing.
On this page are details of the works in Dearnley and Stubley, Swaindrod, Whitelees, Rake and Smithy Bridge (Hall and Rodgers). Here are Links to the larger works at Starring. Summit, Punchbowl and Whittaker. Links are also provided at the end of each page.
Dearnley & Stubley Brickworks
There were 2 small brickworks in the Stubley and Dearnley area which were operational at the same time but neither lasted that long, North of the ‘Kingdom Hall of the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ some traces of the clay pits remain.
Swaindrod Brickworks
This was located just north of Halifax Road, east of Sladen Valley and West of the Moorcock Inn. The location of the brickworks has not been positively identified but is thought to be in the field behind Limefield Terrace (and above the Rochdale Canal Feeder Drain). where crop marks appear in dry weather possibly indicating kiln site. It is understood that 1869 was the first year of the brickworks and during the 1870’s it was operated by Messrs Ireland Buckley & Co, manufacturers. In June 1879 they advertised there output as “all kinds of Fire Bricks, Boiler Blocks, Circle & Flat Tile, Furnace Blacks, Chimney Tops etc and also common types of Drainage Pipes 3", 4" & 6 inches". During November 1879 the Littleborough Local Board (having taken over responsibility of the road from the Turnpike Trust in late 1872) agreed to Messrs Ireland Buckley & Co making a tramway across Blackstone Edge Road to the satisfaction of the board and to be responsible for any accidents which resulted. It is unclear whether the tramway was ever built. Later, C & A Rogers, local quarrymen and stone merchants continued in the business until at least 1890. The Rochdale Observer 13th October. 1893 carried an advertisement headed “Declining Brick Making” for an auction of Brick Making Plant, Horses, and Carts etc. The brick making plant is listed as one kiln with about 60,000 bricks, Brick Shed, with a floor comprising 144 cast iron plates, Renshaw brick press, Brass and wood moulds.
Whitelees Brickworks
In 1875 a local brick making plant set up for the manufacture of bricks for the Whitelees Estate, ie the older terraced housing behind the Dyers Arms. The actual location of the clay pit isn’t clear but it was probably near to Salts Drive/Petts Crescent. During 1878 complaints of nuisance were made by the occupier of Moorfield House on Shore Road. The complaints were about an open kiln, smoke and smell and affects on the garden. These were investigated by the Local Board’s Legal Advisor but he determined that it was a private matter. The date when the brickworks ceased operations is not known but it is likely to have ceased operations by 1880.
Rake Brickworks
The Rake Fire Brick Company was established between 1861 and 1864 under the chairmanship of W. Lloyd of Rochdale but it was auctioned off in 1871. In 1889 the Littleborough Fire Clay and Coal Company was formed and the Company prospectus describes the works and plant as including a 30 hp horizontal engine and boiler house with two boilers, blacksmiths shop, joiners shop, moulding rooms, drying rooms, brick and pipe making rooms, brick and tile machinery and pipe making machines for pipes from 2” to 24”. There was a wharf and store yard of 2,268 sq yards on the Rochdale Canal within 100 yards of the works. The coal and clay came from mines under the works and the entrance to the mines was a horse road “roomy and well constructed being lined with brick” . The works continued in business until 1896 when it was wound up. At a later date Rake Terrace was built on the site. The OS map for 1894 1:2500 shows 4 circular kilns on the site which may have been similar to those at Tetlow’s or Starring Pottery.
