The Smallfield Brickyard
I was born at 1 Kings Cottages in April 1931. I have two brothers, and as young boys we were close friends of the late Gerald Mitchel. Gerald's mum, nee Doris King, lived with her husband (Syd, who served with the RAF) in what was then called Brickyard Cottages. Their next door neighbours were the Gunn family. I have so many fond memories of our days spent playing, climbing on the brick kilns, swimming in the ponds (which must have been filled in in order to build houses), and adventures in the woods. The woods at that time were across the field from the brickworks. I recall the names of some of the brickmakers, there was one job, which had the title of 'OMICA', I think that's how it would have been spelled. The brickmaking work ceased, I believe, at the onset of war in 1939. There was a well-worn path past the brickmaking sheds and on through the woods which lead to the Ebenezer Chapel. I have so many tales to tell about those days. I am sure it must be well documented, the time the houses in New Road got bombed. I worked for A K & S, (Alfred King & Son), the firm of builders and undertakers, as a plumber's mate until Mr Henry King (Alfred's son) died, in I think 1948, it was there I met and worked with Reuben Pocock, Peter's dad. I knew Peter of course. I am hoping to publish a book with the many accounts of 'goings on' in the village, some funny, some sad, but all wonderful, the place where I spent my very happy childhood and teen years.
In 1953 I married my sweetheart and moved down to Devon, where we lived until 1979 when we emigrated to Australia. Please feel free to send emails as I feel I have so many memories to share.
I hope it's OK to include my email address: ach13@tadaust.org.au
Thanks, Peter and Janet
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RE: RE: The Smallfield Brickyard
Hi writer about Smallfield 23 June 09 I don't remember the library but I worked for Mr Collins the butcher in the late 1940s along with Joe Walker, it was Joe that allowed me to drive the butcher's van, and it was there I gained my driving licence. At one time Mr Collins produced 'kipper' sausages, my mum bought some but I don't think they were much of a success. It was during that time Collins had a 'fresh fish round' so it was my job to sell to customers in and around the Smallfield and Outwood areas off the back of the brand new Ford Eight Van, whilst delivering the 'weekend' joint. The Youth Club - yes I remember a Mr 'Tackle' Harding and a Mr Granger, along with others being in charge. We arranged to have dances in the 'church room', I think that's what it was called, and a Grand Fete in one of Steve Warnett's fields. Before the war Warnetts were the butchers. We had a sports day in the field beside Steels the Milkman (which was next to the 'Auxhilary Fire Station') to celebrate the end of the Second World War, I was 14, and Syd Mitchell (an ex RAF man in his 40s) beat me in the 400 yard sprint.
Comment from Tony Harper on Friday, 2nd October 2009.
RE: RE: The Smallfield Brickyard
Hi Tony, Omica (which I think should have H in front of it) was the job of wheeling the barrow full of wet clay up the planks to the clay mill. I think you were too old for this at 21. Dennis Stenning.
Comment from Dennis Stenning on Monday, 19th October 2009.
RE: RE: The Smallfield Brickyard
Hi Dennis, you are probably right, with an 'H', those blokes must have been made of 'sterner stuff'. Did you ever have to 'service' the pump that Henry had in the kitchen of The Orchard? Frank Cousins had the job of pumping water up into the tanks in the roof, I remember seeing him doing that when Gerald and I used to go and see his Grandma Alice in the early 1940s, she often gave us a glass of orange cordial. Do you remember the Messrs Ireland & Woodcock? I think they were Kings Farm workers, as a kid I always thought they were very old men, but on one occasion in the early 1960s I saw Mr Ireland, of course he then was indeed an old man, and very stooped over. One job Henry had me do was teasing out goat hair which was stored in the granary and used, mixed into a lime plaster for rendering the internal walls of houses. It's funny isn't it, I learned to wipe joints when I was working in London, but I never had the opportunity whilst with Kings, mostly at that time I think we were using galvanised pipe and fittings, my chance came when I picked up a job in Crawley New Town, while working for Newman & Watson in 1952. More memories some other time. Tony
Comment from Tony Harper on Wednesday, 25th November 2009.
RE: RE: The Smallfield Brickyard
On behalf of Peter and Janet Pocock.
The brickworks in Smallfield belonged to Alfed King and Son Builders. The brickfield was sited at the end of a narrow drive adjacent to the buliders yard and the house where Henry, Alfred's son lived. The drive is off the Smallfield/Horne road (Plough Road).
The making of the bricks restarted about 1946, there were three brickmakers, Walt Fuller, who lived in Laundry Cottages, Smallfield. Charlie Bidwell and his son, young Charlie, who lived in south Godstone.
The clay for the bricks was dug from a pit during the late winter months and stacked close to the brick work sheds. In the spring the clay was mixed with chalk/sharp sand and ash in a Pug mill, then turned out onto a bench then into moulds all done by hand. The clay bricks were then taken outside and stacked on boards in long rows to dry and harden off in the warm sunshine.. you hoped.
The brickmaker started work at firstlight and finished around midday. This allowed the bricks to have maximum drying time. When the bricks where dry and firm they were stacked together in a dome like structure and passages left were left at the base of the stack, filled with timber and set alight and the bricks gradually burned, this last for several months when the smoke died away outer casing was taken away exposing the multi-coloured stock brick.
Most of the houses in New Road and the telephone exchange in Plough Road were built with theses bricks.
in 1950 Mr Henry died and the brick and buliders yard closed down.
Alfred King and Son was also the main undertakers in the area. All the coffins were handmade in the carpenters shop mainly by Fred Coutts, Bertie Howick and Frank Bryant.
Comment from Laura Mitchell on Thursday, 24th December 2009.
RE: RE: The Smallfield Brickyard
Hi Laura. Nice to read your account of the 'brickyard', are you related to the late Doris or Gerald aka Syd? Tony
Comment from Tony Harper on Friday, 25th December 2009.
RE: RE: The Smallfield Brickyard
Hi Tony, thanks for your message, Janet and Peter are my grandparents so I will ask them, the account was written by my grandad and typed up by me. Laura
Comment from Laura Mitchell on Sunday, 24th January 2010.
RE: RE: The Smallfield Brickyard
Happy New Year From Downunder, this seems a good way to keep some of the memories alive. Please say hello to Janet and Peter. I feel sure your granddad will remember Dennis Stenning. Dennis has also 'posted' comments re A K & S ,it seems we all worked for the firm at some time. Of course I also remember your great-granddad. Best wishes. Tony.
Comment from Tony Harper on Monday, 25th January 2010.