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Botesdale Brickworks
The village of Redgrave is the descendant of the historic Redgrave Manor (Redgrave Park) which contained Redgrave Hall. The parish also contains the village of Botesdale, which, with the Rickinghalls is located along the B1113, and nowadays is bypassed by the A143. The A143 bypass cuts through the site of this brickworks just before its junction with the B1113.
In 1799, Thomas Holt's nephew George Wilson (1756-1826) inherited the Redgrave Estate. In 1898 financial problems forced George Holt Wilson to move out of Redgrave Hall, and he took up residence at Broom Hills house, Rickinghall. He was the last of the Wilsons to live at the Hall.
In 1896, George Holt-Wilson set up the Botesdale Brick and Tile works which lasted only until 1908, as far as is known.
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The Suffolk Heritage Explorer lists Botesdale Brickworks as monument record BOT 016, "Botesdale Brick Works, Brick Kiln operated by George Holt-Wilson, 1896-1908. Buildings (brickworks?) & pits shown on 1950s OS map." The works can, however , be seen on the OS 1:2500, or 25 inch, map published in 1904. |
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The area today The Suffolk Heritage Explorer lists Botesdale Brickworks as monument record BOT 016, "Botesdale Brick Works, Brick Kiln operated by George Holt-Wilson, 1896-1908." Although Buildings (brickworks?) & pits were still visible on 1950s OS map, there are no remains today. As can be seen from the Suffolk Heritage Explorer map there is little or no trace of the brickworks remaining today following construction of the A143 to bypass Rickinghall Inferior, Rickinghall Superior and Botesdale in the 1990s.
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Summary of the owners or managers
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British Brick Society newsletter "Information No 26, April 2014,
Suffolk Heritage Explorer Reference BOT 016
Suffolk Review, Vol 5, 1980 - 1988 on ‘Suffolk Brickmaking’ by Robert Malster. (Suffolk Local History Council, Summer 1983, Vol 5, No 4).
Suffolk Industrial Archaeology Society newsletter No 21, September, 1988, "Brick Kilns in Suffolk" by C J Pankhurst
Website - David Kitching's website - Brick Section
Website - Martyn Fretwell's blog on bricks etc
Photos of bricks by Martyn Fretwell unless stated.
Page created on 21st October, 2023
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