Report - Hipperholme Brickworks Halifax (August 2011)

[ReliantRebel]

After seeing Harry's thread it inspired me to post about the brickworks.

I live approx two miles away from the factory and have been numerous times. They also used to do stock car racing near there in the 60's/70's near the lake it was called Sunny Bunces. The boating lake closed to the public many years ago after a little boy drowned in there.

There was recent talks of demolishing the place and turning it into a retirement home but I don't think it got planning. It's in a gorgeous setting, very tranquil and the place is huge. Well worth a visit.

A little more info courtesey of Malcolm Bulls Calderdale Companion.

Allen & Son (Halifax) Limited
Glazed brick manufacturers established by Henry Victor Allen when he took over the Halifax Glazed Brick Works in the Walterclough valley. He converted the works to manufacture refractory bricks. Their Selfrac refractory bricks were world famous.
The bricks were carried by narrow-gauge railway up the valley to the sidings at Hipperholme station.

In 19??, they were taken over by G. R. Stein.

See Michael Allen and Henry Clifford Smith

Taking a few shots...

Inside shot (Following photos August 2011)

Furnace

Fun!

WTF Did I just read?!

The factory chimney. Note the iron bands in place to keep the bricks locked together at the top of the chimney

The infamous boating lake
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A video, factory walk starts at 2 min 30 sec. Please forgive my friends strange sense of humour.
[video=youtube;njDNnR8d3J8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njDNnR8d3J8[/video]
Hope this is of interest!

Patrick.