b'The Brickyard at Bishop WiltonAndrew SeftonWhen my father was the tenant farmer forfortnights in a row for 1881 the yard made 114,000, Garrowby Estate at Hall Farm in Bishop Wilton, some90,000 and 40,000 bricks. In 1881 the number of of the fields we farmed were within the old medievalbricks ordered was one million, and the amount left South Field on Pocklington Lane. They were heavystanding in the yard from last season was 186,800. clay and always difficult to cultivate. Within one of theThe accounts show they were buying sand at 1/- per fields was a pond which we used to call the dump.ton and gravel at 1/- per ton. If the estate tenants Many people used to dump rubbish in it and we usedwanted any sand and gravel it was sold to them for to delight in playing on the edge of it, throwing stones2/6 and 1/6 per ton respectively. The accounts for into the water and sometimes shooting tins withGarton end in 1914 when the final entry states, The our air guns. There was always a lot of brick rubblemen are therefore at liberty to work in harvest fields in around the edge, and I was told by the old folk of theplace of those taken away for the Kings service village that it was the location of the old Brickyard inThe lack of men for employment at the brickworks Bishop Wilton. It then became clear to me that thecaused by the war obviously sealed its fate and it had pond was in fact the remains of the Brickyard clay pit.to close.The location of the Brickyard was on land originallyThe accounts for one fortnight ending 20 July owned by the Sykes of Sledmere who in turn sold it to1909 give an indication of the processes involved (see the Halifax family of Garrowby and Hickleton. inset; Ref: DDSY 98/54):David Neave in his talk to the Bishop WiltonAlfred Watts was the Traction Engine driver and Local History Group in December 2006 mentioned itcharged 4/10/0. It is also clear that the Brickworks was one of the two Sledmere Estate brickyards, thein Garton was contributing to the local community. main one being at Garton on the Wolds. I decidedIt mentions in each fortnight that Charity to five old to investigate to find any evidence of the Brickyard.people in the parish was paid at 1/- per person. At I visited Hull University Brynmor Jones Library andChristmas, 8 persons received a 5/- gift. There was found the account books of the Garton Brickyard.also the Garton Clothing club which had 32 adults at Although I could not find any direct references to5/- cost and 21 children at 2/-.Bishop Wilton, they give an interesting insight into theOn January 19th 1911, 5 men were digging and operation of an estate brickyard.wheeling clay. It mentions 80,000 bricks @ 2/3 per An examination of the Garton Brickworks accounts1000, and Robert Smith was paid for clay turning books (Ref: DDSY/98/86) showed the amounts ofand tamping. At Garton there seemed to be around bricks that could be made in a fortnight. In three7 men employed in the brickworks and their jobs Garton Brickworks Accounts - 1909 s dBricks made by Machine 10,000 @ 4/2 per 1000 2 1 8Coals & Oil for engine 10,000 @ 1/8 per 1000 16 8Days work on 10,000 @-/6 per 1000 5 8Pumping Water 10,000 @-/3 per 1000 2 6Clamping bricks 19,000 @ 2/8 per 1000 2 10 8Leading Coals 24,000@-/3 per 1000 6 8Turning Clay 25,000@-/11 per 1000 1 2 11Filling Kiln 15,000@1/6 per 1000 1 2 6Coals for clamping 24,000@5/6 per 1000 6 12 6Pressing Bricks 9,000 @ 4/- per 1000 1 16 616 15 11268 BULLETIN 15'