Thorrington Mill Brickworks (EHER 15495)

The brickworks beside Thorrington Mill originates around the 1870s, and produced bricks that were transported away from the site on barges via Alresford Creek. It is not clear when production at this site ceased.

Thorrington Mill Brick Works were located north of Thorrington Mill and east of Mill Dam. Dated to around the 1870s, operated by Henry Chopping and produced brick. A common cargo for barges at Brightlingsea was 20,000 bricks and 100 sacks of flour. The bricks came from the Thorrington Mill Brick Works and were loaded at the top of Alresford Creek. The barges then sailed down Alresford Creek and the River Colne and up Brightlingsea Creek to St Osyth for a half-cargo of flour and finally picked up the remainder at Walton tide-mill. The water mill at Thorrington, for grinding corn, was owned by successive members of the Cooper family during the nineteenth century including George, Henry, John and Frederick Cooper. By the 1870s Henry Chopping rented Thorrington Water Mill and the Brick Works from the Cooper family. He removed clay off the surrounding land for brickmaking apparently to the annoyance and regret of the Cooper family. The site appears to be undeveloped and below ground deposits of former buildings / structures may survive. Field assessment in first instance with follow on intrusive works if necessary. <1>