The Brickworks Museum, in Bursledon in Hampshire, has been opened to coach parties for the first time.
The museum offers an insight into what is said to be the only complete steam driven brickworks in the UK today and provides an example of early industrialisation.
All the old buildings that were part of the brick making process, such as the machine house, the drying sheds – where innovative under floor heating operated – and the kilns – where bricks were burnt before being sent off to market – are still in place and groups are invited to travel round the museum on the route that a lump of clay would have taken before it ended up as a finished brick.
The preserved machinery that was once used to make up to 33,000 bricks a day and is still in working condition is also on display, including the original steam engine.
A demonstration of the hand-making of brick forms part of the tour of the museum as well, and groups are also given the opportunity to make a brick themselves.
A café serving light refreshments, including homemade cakes, is also available at The Brickworks Museum.
The museum is open to groups from April to October on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
The Brickworks
The Brickworks was first established in 1897 by two brothers who went by the name of Ashby.
Its location next to the river Hamble and a new railway made it the ideal location for transporting the bricks to market and it is said to be one of the first sites to manufacture brick all year round in large quantities.
For more information visit www.bursledonbrickworks.org.uk.
