Late 19th to early 20th century brickworks, 'MacKenzie's Brick Work', Thorpe-Le-Soken (EHER 15468)

McKenzie's Brick Work operating between 1896 to 1903 by Donald Mackenzie and Sons. The site of these former brickworks is now completely overgrown with trees, brambles and undergrowth. However the route of the railway siding can still be determined and some remains of the red brick rectangular updraught kiln are standing. One of the few Essex sites with upstanding remains.

On 17th October, 1896 Donald MacKenzie purchased a piece of land between Holland Brook, Harwich Road and the Great Eastern Railway for £40. from George Marshall. Donald MacKenzie who traded with his sons Cohn Edward and Alexander George MacKenzie as Donald MacKenzie and Sons established a brick works on this land. A siding from the Great Eastern Railway was constructed into the brick works which had large drying sheds and one rectangular updraught kiln. Apart from being brickmakers, Donald MacKenzie and Sons were also builders’ and stone merchants and had other brickworks and builders yards at Clacton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze. Their principal depot was at Station Works, Clacton-on-Sea where they were dealers in Timber, Bricks, Cement, Slates, Drain Pipes, Corrugated Iron, Garden Tiles, Chimney Pots, Plaster of Paris, Plasterers’ Hair, Sand, Portland, Kentish Rag and other Stone, Tar Paving, Stafford Blue Bricks, Blue and Red Ridge Tiles and all kinds of building materials. They were also House, Land and Estate Agents, owners of a Steam Road Roller which was available for hire and machinery repairers. Donald MacKenzie who lived at Granville Road, Clacton-on-Sea died on 2nd August, 1901. Thereafter the Thorpe brick works was put up for auction on 12th September, 1903. The site was eventually purchased by Walter Hercules Short, a chartered accountant of Colchester on 21st December, 1903. The site of these former brickworks is now completely overgrown with trees, brambles and undergrowth. However the route of the railway siding can still be determined and some remains of the red brick rectangular updraught kiln are standing. One of the few Essex sites with upstanding remains. Impact assessment prior to any future proposal with detailed recording if necessary.<1>