Buckinghamshire’s Industrial Heritage: Bricks

Buckinghamshire’s Industrial Heritage: Bricks

Historically, Buckinghamshire has been renowned for a number of trades including the production of high quality wooden furniture, lace making and duck rearing. Due to the clay soils which are abundant around The Chilterns, the county was also a centre for brick making.

Making use of the indigenous clay soils and abundance of beech trees, which were used to fire up the kilns, hundreds of small brick makers dominated Buckinghamshire in the 19th Century. By altering the temperature, mixing soils, or shaping the bricks, it was possible to add character, colours and other distinct quality to hand made bricks.

The introduction of mass produced bricks put many of the smaller local companies out of business, yet some continue the tradition. An example is H.G.Matthews, a family run brick makers based in Bellingdon near Chesham since 1923.

These independent makers can still create bricks using traditional techniques and unique character that were used in the past. This has made them a favourite on restoration projects, as well as with architects who are looking to create a specific brick design.

For independent brick makers, it is important that they have a suitable means of shipping brick and tile samples to architects, owners of period properties and project managers. Aylesbury Box Company has worked with local brick companies to provide a robust, cardboard packaging solution to meet this requirement.

Sustainable Brick Making

There has been growing pressure for every industry to improve its environmental credentials in recent years, but this is not a new concept. Back when brick making was booming in Buckinghamshire, the companies were advocates of conservation.

They ensured that the landscape that was providing them with the clay soil and beech wood was well maintained and restored. They understood the need to invest in the surrounding countryside in order to ensure a long term supply for the future.

We believe that using recycled and recyclable cardboard packaging for brick and tile samples builds on this historic approach to sustainability.