Bursledon Brickworks Museum set to replace asbestos roof

Money allocated by Historic England will prevent a large kiln at the Grade II-listed Bursledon Brickworks Museum from suffering further decay and becoming unsafe.

The building's asbestos roof will be replaced with corrugated fibre cement sheeting and translucent roof lights.

The kiln at Bursledon Brickworks Museum, which celebrated its 125th anniversary last year (Image: Historic England Archive)

Marion Brinton, Historic England Partnerships team leader, said: "The kiln is a key element of the museum.

"If it had become unsafe, or even lost through decay, the whole future of the museum could have been in jeopardy.

"The museum does great work with local schools and volunteers, so we are pleased to give support and help create a sustainable future."

READ MORE: Plan to replace kiln roof at Bursledon Brickworks Museum

Carolyne Haynes, the museum's director, added: "We have been watching the old roof rapidly deteriorate over the last ten years and hoping we would be able to replace it before it finally failed.

"Luckily, with the help of Historic England, this has now been made possible and the kiln is being given a new lease of life.

"We are very grateful for their support as finding the funds to undertake repairs such as this is challenging."

An archive photograph of staff at Bursledon Brickworks, which open in 1897 (Image: Bursledon Brickworks Museum)

Repairs to the kiln are part of a wider project to improve public access to the museum. Two drying sheds are set to be transformed into offices for business starter units.

The aim is to ensure historic parts of the site are upgraded so they can be removed from the Heritage at Risk register.

READ MORE: Duke of Gloucester visits Bursledon Brickworks Museum

Plans to replace the kiln's roof were approved by Fareham Borough Council last year.

A heritage statement that accompanied the application said the site helped "revolutionise" the process of brick making.

"Not only was the manufacture of bricks mechanised but they also patented a method of drying bricks which meant large quantities could be manufactured all year round," it said.

Members of the machine gang at Bursledon Brickworks Museum in 1922 (Image: Bursledon Brickworks Museum)

The museum, which celebrated its 125th-anniversary last year, reopens to the public on Sunday after its winter break.

The Grade II-listed complex at Coal Park Lane, Swanwick, was built by Robert and Edward Ashby in 1897 and is the only remaining steam-driven brickworks in the UK.

Described as nationally important, it holds the country's largest collection of bricks and brick-making artefacts.

In its heyday, the site produced around 20 million bricks a year, many of which were used in the construction of buildings in the Southampton area.