Late 19th century brickworks, Park Brickworks, north of Dunmow Union Workhouse (EHER 15528)

Park Brickworks was located north of Dunmow Union Workhouse on the opposite and north side of the railway and east north of Dunmow Railway Station.

Park Brickworks was located north of Dunmow Union Workhouse on the opposite and north side of the railway and east north east of Dunmow Railway Station. Dates to 1878 to 1920 or later. Operators were: Robert Hasler, J.P., C.A., (1840-1920) from 1878 to late 1880's, Robert Hasler and William Hasler, J.P., (1865-1953) trading as Robert Hasler and Son, late 1880's to 1896, Hasler and Clapham from 1896 to 1917, Hasler and Co. Limited from 1917. The products were red bricks and drain pipes. Use of the products: The (eastern) Pavilion at Easton Lodge, Little Easton, built in the style of Peto, about 1925 with 'HASLER DUNMOW' RED BRICKS. (The other, north western, Pavilion at Easton Lodge, namely the Shelley Pavilion was built with hand made red bricks with no name in the frogs. These bricks could have been made by Eston Estate Brickworks). Brick Marks were 'HASLER DUNMOW', 'H. and C.' = Hasler and Clapham. Robert Hasler, J.P., C.A., (1840-1920) was the founder of Hasler and Company, corn and seed merchants, in 1863. He was also a farmer and miller (wind and steam) at Throws, Brick House and Blatches Farms, Little Dunmow. In 1878 he opened the ‘Park Brick Works’ on part of Dunmow Park Farm. This may have been on the same site as the old brickworks of the Railway Contractor on the same farm (see above). By the late 180’s he was joined by his son, William Hasler, J.P., (1865-1935) when they traded as R. Hasler and Son. One of the earliest Brown’s Kilns, which had been patented in 1889, was built here (see under Braintree and Brentwood pages for further details of Brown’s Patent Kilns). In 1896 Robert Hasler and Son and G. F. Clapham, who owned a windmill, stores and stables in Dunmow, amalgamated their business and traded as Hasler and Clapham. Apart from brick and drain pipe makers, they were also corn, seed, coal, seed cake and artificial manure merchants, farmers and millers. In 1913 Hasler and Clapham advertised this ‘brick and pipe manufacturing business’ for sale ‘with plant, machinery, goodwill and a field of 12 acres of freehold land containing valuable deposits of clay suitable for making best red facing bricks’. The brickworks was not sold and Hasler and Clapham continued manufacture. In 1917 G .F. Clapham retired and a new company, Hasler and Co. Limited was formed. A separate company of coal merchants, Walford, Hasler and Co. Limited, was the result of an amalgamation between Haslers and Walford, a coal merchant. William Hasler, J.P., (1865-1935) farmed 2,000 acres in Essex and pioneered the growing of sugar beet in the country and was largely responsible for the foundation of the Dunmow Bacon Factory, being chairman of the Dunmow Flitch of Bacon Company Limited. William Hasler had four sons of whom David and Leonard were both awarded M.C.’s during the First World War when Leonard was killed. David Hasler, M.C. who was seriously injured on two occasions, died in 1946. The company continued to operate as corn and seed merchants and celebrated their centenary in 1963. Their brickworks closed sometime between the wars. For nearly forty years James Kirby was manager of these works before becoming works manager of Chigwell Brick Works. In 1931, when he had been employed in the brickmaking industry for 68 years, he was presented with a Silver Long Service Medal on behalf of the Institute of Clayworkers. Site Assessment: Station Road is now a cul-de-sac as a result of the new by-pass built on the site of the former railway. At the south eastern end of Station Road on the north side, where the brickworks were located, is now an electricity sub station. Immediately north west are bungalows along the road frontage with another cul-de-sac with bungalows called 'Sunbank'. It is difficult to see what is on the remainder of the brickworks site beyond. Appears to be largely undeveloped. Further documentary/cartographic information needed with intrusive works if warranted. <1> - <6>