Manchester Ship Canal brick

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Brick by the Manchester Ship Canal Brick & Tile Company

Believed to have been made at the brick works on the west side of Lymm on the Statham side of Thelwall Eye. The brickworks can be seen on the 1904 map.

According to an 1896 address to the Manchester Geographical Society by Mr W Burnett Tracy, published in the Society’s Journal, there was an abundance of clay in the spoil dug out to form the canal. Mr Burnett Tracy explains that 460,000 bricks were produced weekly for a long time at the Ship Canal Company’s “model brick-farm” or bakery at Thelwall. The works was furnished with the latest machinery and included a series of some acres of covered buildings surrounded by heated walls as a contingency should there be gaps in the sunshine.

Further text from the Donor, Mr Mike Kenwright notes:

There is an old cottage in Glazebrook, Warrington which is believed to have been in the same family for around ninety years.

Some years ago, permission was obtained to extend and improve the building which entailed demolishing an old single storey extension at the rear. When the extension was demolished, it was found to have been constructed with MSC bricks.

A member of the family knowing Mr Kenwright's interest in all things connected to the canal, was given the brick and which as shown, is in remarkably good condition.