Building record 1397200000 - The Old Brickyard, Middle Claydon

The disused brickyard is situated approximately 800 metres north-west of Claydon House on the west side of the lane which runs in a north-south direction between the Botolph Claydon to Charndon and Steeple Claydon to Sandhill roads. The site, which abuts the road, is rectangular in shape and bounded by trees and hedges. It contains a series of brick pits, which survive as marshy ponds towards the south-west side of the site. On the eastern side of the site is a pair of semi-detached cottages which are orientated so that the gable faces the road. The cottages, which are in need of maintenance, display a date stone on the east gable stating the year of construction as 1868. Other now derelict brick and wooden buildings, situated near the centre of the site, may relate to the former brickworks. In an area of no local source of stone, brick making was an important local industry and in surviving 18th century correspondence relating to the construction of Claydon House, many references are made to brick fields in the area. The brickyard to the west of Claydon House has been included within the Conservation Area boundary because it is an important survival of a traditional local industry.