Brick Kiln

COWES

947/0/10044 HILLIS GATE ROAD 11-MAR-10 Brick Kiln

II An early-C20 red and grey brick circular, or beehive, brick kiln with domed roof and chimney.

EXTERIOR: The circular kiln is about 6m in diameter and 3.5m to 4m high. Its 10m high chimney stands 1.5m away to the east of the main structure. Both the kiln and chimney are in English bond. Around the base of the kiln is a series of seven fireholes, each with a round-arched double course of brick headers as a lining and iron bar supports at the base. There is an entrance to the west with inner and outer doorway, each with a round arch of two courses of headers. There is a cement seal between the circular walls of the kiln and the header bond built dome with its central vent. The chimney has a single florally decorated plaque above an inspection hole on the east side, and a slit vent in the north side. An iron band supports the top of the kiln and three iron bands encircle the chimney.

INTERIOR: A brick floor with a central flue which connects to the chimney and baffles on the wall abutting each firehole.

HISTORY: The land occupied by Brickfields used to be part of the Hillis brick works which closed in 1955. It appears that the kiln was probably the last built in the yard. There is map evidence for a brick-yard here from at least 1864. The owner of the yard was William Pritchett who was the great grandson of the first Pritchett making bricks on the Island from the 1760s.

The kiln is the sole survivor of a once large brick works. Map evidence shows that the works expanded from its relatively modest beginnings before 1864 to a quite extensive works by 1897. By 1909 the works had reached its full extent, and continued relatively unchanged until closure. The surviving kiln dates from the early-C20, but appears to be on the site of an 1897 kiln which was much bigger.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION: The brick kiln at Brickfields is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * As a good and intact example of an early-C20 beehive kiln. * For its regional interest as a survivor of a once large brick works on the Isle of Wight, where few brick works were established. * For its historical association with the Pritchett family, a long established brick-making family on the Isle of Wight. * For its striking aesthetic qualities, the domed circular structure with free standing chimney being evocative of ancient building types.

SOURCES: Angela Simco, English Heritage Monuments Protection Programme The Clay Industries Step 1 Report (1998) pp.70-77, Fig 47 p.204 Angela Simco, English Heritage Monuments Protection Programme The Clay Industries Step 2 Shortlist (2000) p.87