Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Cossey (Costessey) Whites
Costessey lies to the north-west of Norwich (Norfolk), the name being con-
tracted by local pronunciation to Cossey. The pioneering female architect and
wife of the owner, Lady Frances Stafford, started an estate brickyard around
1815 for the re-construction of Costessey Hall on a Tudor model (sadly demol-
ished after the 1914-18 War). She worked closely with the leading antiquar-
ian topographer, J.C. Buckler with the brickyard subsequently taken over by
George Gunton.
Cox (2002) records that the works:
…produced 'Cossey Whites', actually a light yellow, which were widely used
around the Norwich area…. … In the later nineteenth century, Guntons pro-
duced 'Costessey ware'…. Described as 'fine moulded brickwork which can
be rubbed and shaped into intricate patterns' and they were used for George
Skipper's office, 7, London Street, Norwich in 1896, which has ornamental bricks
and Costessey Ware panels.
Ewell Rubbers
The Ewell brickyard was probably at, or near, the site of the Nonsuch brick-
works between London Road and Vicarage Lane in Ewell (Surrey). According
to Cox (2002), the brickyard:
Had its own clay pit and was in operation from about 1800 … Originally oper-
ated by Swallow and Stone then Stone and Swallow and eventually Stone and
Company.
The company produced Ewell deep black rubbing bricks, as well as dark and
bright red rubbers. With regard to examples of the use of their black rubbers,
Cox (2002), states:
In 1861 a house in Smithfield on the corner of St. John Street and Charterhouse
Lane, London, the architect George Somers-Clarke employed Ewell black rub-
bers. In 1863 another building by Somers-Clarke, The Merchant Seaman's
Orphans Asylum, Snaresbrook, used locally made red bricks which 'The Building'
of 4/04/1863 p 242 described '… the fronts being relieved by black Ewell facing
courses, and the window heads and other arches throughout are also of black
Ewell cutters and red Ballingdon cutters'.
Fareham Reds
Fareham Reds were made in brickworks in the north-east part of Fareham
in Hampshire, in the vicinity of Fareham Common and Fontley (also spelt
