Mason and Son Brickworks, Withersfield

Haverhill enjoyed at least six brickworks sites. These are grouped both to the east of the town and to the west. Mason and Son had two brickworks along the Withersfield Road. This one was in Withersfield Parish just across the Withersfield railway bridge.

Walter Mason (1833 to 1904) at first worked in his father Thomas's carpentry business. He then moved to London, before returning in 1860 to the family works which was soon, by 1869, to grow into the major building firm in Haverhill. Walter Mason would go on to build the Old Independent Church, the West End Church, the Town Hall and the Cangle School, as well as many houses, both grand and small. By 1880 he employed 102 men and 16 boys in the building trade.

Mason and Son began their first brickworks on Withersfield Road in 1870, according to a talk by MR F D Unwin in March, 1922. In 1887 they opened this larger works along Withersfield Road, which continued operating in 1922.

He had two surviving sons, leaving Manor House and Farm to Walter (junr) and Sturmer Hall, with all the livestock of sheep and lambs to Thomas.

Walter took over the building and brick making firm, while Thomas was left the farming business.

Walter Mason died in 1904, aged 71, leaving the builders yards and brickworks to his second son, Walter Junior, born 1877. By this time the older brickworks from 1870 at Mt Pleasant had been sold off.

Walter junr died on 26th December 1923 at just 46 years old.

In 1923 the building business and the Withersfield brickworks were inherited by Walter's cousin, Clifton Mason, (1876-1946), who continued the business for many years.