Stamfordbridge brickworks in Vinery Road c1843
Stamfordbridge Brick Works

Vinery Road, Bury St Edmunds

Stamfordbridge Brickworks in Vinery Road

In the early 19th century Vinery Road was known as Stamford Bridge Road, as shown on Payne's map of Bury St Edmunds, dated 1834, based upon his written survey carried out in 1833.
I was unaware of this largely unrecorded brickworks until I was browsing Payne's map, an extract of which is shown here.

Payne's survey of the town included the facts that John Trevethan also had two hothouses and a melon ground as well as his brick kiln at this location.

The kiln here produced red bricks.


Kiln site becomes The Vinery
 		By the 1880s OS map the brick kiln site had been replaced by the Vinery which soon became the name by which the road became called.

In Pigot's Directory of Suffolk of 1839 the only recorded brick makers were Steggles and Sons of 10 Whiting Street, and John Trevethan at 'Standford bridge'.

In White's Directory of 1844, there is no category for Brick makers, but under "Bricklayers and Builders" there is a John Trevethan (& brick maker) of 71 Guildhall Street.

In White's Directory of 1855 Trevethan no longer appears. The Brick and Tile makers now listed are Augustine Durrant of Nowton Road and James Lee of 27 Risbygate Street.


End of lease brick sale
 		Trevethan continued to produce bricks until the lease on the site expired in April, 1853. On 31st March a sale by auction of the entire remaining stock of 400,000 red bricks was carried out. See attached notice from the Bury and Norwich Post of 30th March, 1853.

The new tenant was Mr Robert Eley.


Trevethan obituary
 		John Trevethan died aged 72 on 15th April, 1867, following a fall before Christmas, 1866. His obituary in the Bury and Norwich Post of 16th April 1867 is shown here.

Westgate Brickworks mislocated
 		Suffolk Heritage Explorer

The Suffolk Heritage Explorer catalogues this site as BSE 108, Westgate Brickworks.

This confusing entry reads as follows:-

"Westgate brickworks. Mislocated to TL 849 636 (S1). Also formerly recorded as BSE 108. Operated by: John Trevethan, 1823(?) - 1846 (S1). Probably same as `Brick Kiln' on OS 1st ed in 1836 at TL 852 633 although siting of actual `kiln' not clear, probably to W at circa TL 849 633 where access available from Out Westgate and Vinery Road. Check tithe map."


The Stamford Bridge works shown in 1836
 		This map from about 1836 shows the location of the Stamford Bridge Brickworks on the OS one inch scale.

Summary of the owners or managers

  • 1823? to 1853 John Trevethan

This article was compiled by David Addy

Page created on 27th September 2023

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