Flying the flag for UK manufacturing, Ibstock is celebrating 300 years of continuous brick making at the same location, the longest in the UK, at its factory in Chailey.

Damian Descombes, Chailey Factory Manager, commented: "Brick has long been the material of choice for the construction industry due to its excellent eco-credentials, inherent thermal mass, durability and longevity.

"As one of only a handful of brickworks which still uses the ‘clamp’ method of firing, Chailey is able to produce a brick which has a distinctive appearance and is therefore extremely popular with both merchants and architects looking to create buildings with a traditional look and feel.


"We are confident that Chailey bricks will continue to be used to create buildings that compliment the vernacular of the local built environment for many years to come."

Pipes, tiles, pottery and bricks have been made in and around South Chailey since 1711. Since 1792, successive generations of the Norman family owned and operated the factory until it was finally sold to Redland Brick in 1959. Ibstock acquired Redland in 1996.

The Chailey factory, which has the capacity to manufacture approximately 14 million bricks per year, is one of only a very small number of brickworks which still use the clamp method of firing which is defined as a 'carefully constructed stack of bricks'. Probably one the oldest method of firing bricks, the process involves setting the bricks outside under cover and firing for up to 14 days. As it is such a skilled art to set and fire a clamp, it can only be done by those with years of specialist experience.

The site also manufactures pavers and brick shape specials.

(CD/KMcA)