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Ruscombe Brick Works (Manufacturer)

A triangular fragment of a red clay roof tile, stamped 'RLC'. Made at Ruscombe Brick Works in Ruscombe, Berkshire.
A triangular fragment of a red clay roof tile, stamped 'RLC'. It was made at Ruscombe Brick Works in Ruscombe, Berkshire, which was owned by Robert Louden Cotterell. The works closed in 1928 when Mr Cotterell died.

1 tile: pottery

MERL Recording form – ‘Who used it: // When was it used: // How was it used: Roof tile // Where was it used: // Has it a local name: // When this object was used do you know if it was common in many parts of the country or only in the place from which it came: // Who made it: Tile made by Ruscombe Brick Works owned by Richard Loudon Cottrell of Castle End Farm, Ruscombe. // When was it made: Unknown // Where was it made: Ruscombe Works // From what materials is the object made: Clay // Is it corroded or broken or damaged in any other way: Piece of tile // What are its approximate measurements: 4” x 3” // Have you a photograph of the object: No // Has it any unusual characteristics: No, but note lettering stamped on tile – ‘RLC’ // Additional information: The brickyard closed down in 1928 after R L Cottrell died. Cottrell was tenant of Northbury Farm owned by Edward Godsell of Haines Hill. (Note: tiles were stamped with letters fixed to the wrist of the tile makers glove who struck each tile as it came from the cutting machine.) // Could you please make a rough sketch of the object: [sketch]’, Miscellaneous Note, R. S. Hunt – ‘On the sight [sic] where Tilbury Construction Co. have their offices and works, used to be the Ruscombe Brick Works, owned and run by Mr. Louden Cottrell [sic - Cotterell], of Castle End Farm, Ruscombe, who also had the tenancy of Northbury Farm, Ruscombe, then owned by Capt: Edward Godsel of Haines Hill House. Haines Hill was an estate of several thousand acres. Many times, I, with others, have watched the making of bricks in the brickyard. The machinery was driven by a stationary steam engine, which was tended by old ‘Bob’ Groves, one of Ruscombe’s characters at that time. The clay was brought from the pits in trucks which ran on tracks and were pushed by men, to the moulding machine, the bricks produced were hand-cuts, and were then wheeled away on barrows and stacked before being put into the kilns for burning. Mr. “Father” George Herbert was the burner there nearly all his life, he was also Clerk and Sexton at Ruscombe Church for over 35 years, and was buried there sometime in the 1930’s. Mr. Powell was the brickyard manager for many years, and his only child, a daughter, is now Mrs: Ray Garraway, and still lives at the bottom of New Road, Ruscombe. On the death of Mr. Louden Cottrell [sic - Cotterell] in 1928, much of the land which he had farmed was bought by Mssrs. John Waterer, Sons & Crisp, of the famous “Floral Mile.” This land extended from Northbury Farm, Ruscombe, over to the old Wargrave “Piggott” school. …’, MERL Miscellaneous note - Robert Lowden Cotterell (1845-1928) aka Robert Louden Cotterell, born in the first quarter of 1845 in Ruscombe, Berkshire. He lived in Ruscombe for much of his life. Robert was the eldest son of Henry and Emma Cotterell. In 1851 the family lived in Ruscombe where Henry was a farmer with 244 acres employing 9 labourers and 4 boys. In 1861 living in Ruscombe Lane Henry was a farmer with 244 acres employing 8 labourers plus 5 boys. Henry died on 11 March 1869. By 1881 Robert was Manager Farm Bailiff employing 14 Men 6 Boys 11 Women. His mother Emma, a widow, was the farmer of 400 acres. By 1891 he diversified his occupation to being a farmer and brick maker at Ruscombe. Henry Farrar in The Book of Hurst records that the clay soil found in his fields could be used to make the distinctive local red bricks. He converted some of his farm to a brickworks. Although the Ruscombe neighbourhood plan states ‘In the 16th century a brickworks was established in Ruscombe Lane’. His brother Richard was also a farmer. In the census in 1901 and 1911 Robert is recorded as a farmer and brick maker. In 1911 Robert lived with his sisters and brothers at Castle End Farm. In reminiscences by Sam Bullock he writes about local people he knew in the Twyford area ‘Louden Cotterell, noted farmer, racehorse owner, Waterloo Cup winner, brickmaker, also his brother Richard who played with Louden regularly for Hurst at cricket fifty years ago.’ In 1893 Robert’s greyhound Character won the Waterloo Cup. Robert died on 17 May 1928 in Shanklin in the Isle of Wight. Beneficiaries of his will were Richard Cotterell, William Charles James Hissey, farmers and Frederick Smith agricultural implement maker. He was 84 when he died. He left over £13,000. The Ruscombe brickworks at Ruscombe Lane survived until 1939.

Ruscombe

1891 - 1928