The brickmaking industry has had a big impact on the people of Bedfordshire as an employer and by affecting the area’s landscape and culture. People from other countries have come to work here and many have remained in the area, adding to Bedford’s cultural diversity. The Italian community in particular has strong associations with brickmaking.
A drive through Bedfordshire’s Marston Vale area reveals lakes left by the industry’s former pits and the brickwork’s chimneys are visible for miles, although now only present in a fraction of their former numbers.
Please click here to see how the bricks are made
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Elstow Brickworks in 1938 |
Bedford Museum would like to thank all the following companies and individuals for their help.
Hanson Brick UK, especially Craig Manning, Steve Ward, Paul Newbury and Roger Houghton, for kindly allowing the use of the London Brick archive and for their time.
Bedford and Luton Archives and Record Service
Forest of Marston Vale, especially Carmela Semeraro and
all the people who came
forward to contribute their memories and objects to the
Changing
landscapes changing lives project.
Jean Collins for research on the brick industry
We would also like to thank: Chris Boon, Linda Hodsdon, Mike Paget, Karen Philbin, Eric Redford, Bill Walsh and everyone who has contributed objects, photographs or memories to this exhibition.