Z1205/071

Male. Bricklayer at London Brick Co. b. 23.02.1933 Side A (00 mins)Raised in Cranfield in family of 12 children. Father worked in brickworks. All sons worked for London Brick. Maternal grandfather worked on local farm; paternal grandfather from Cheshire. (05 mins)Easy to get jobs in brickworks. As a child, there were no cars. Workers had bicycles to get to work, or walked. New everybody in Cranfield - worked part-time as paper boy and milk boy, plus collecting egg from free-range hens at local farm. (10 mins)When he was sixteen, he bought a brand-new suit for £5. Washing in tin bath. Always had a hot meal everyday - often rabbit. Bred rabbits for sale to local butcher. Also ferreted. (15 mins)Attended Cranfield School. Corporal punishment. Left school t 14. Got job with London Brick Co. then moved to building dept of Cranfield College. Returned to London Brick in Jan 1957 to do bricklaying. Italians were good workers. (20 mins)Modernisation beginning. Brick kiln entrances enlarged to accommodate forklift truck delivery and removal. Helped build new kilns. (25 mins)Accident at work led to six months off work and court case by union to get compensation. "Job for life" and lighter duty bricklaying. End of Side A Side B (00 mins)Earning good money on building kilns through piece work. (05 mins)Redundancy aged 59. Never worked again. Brick production in severe decline. Father worked until aged 65 at brickworks and then for further 15 years until aged 80 at Cranfield College on light duties. (10 mins)Loss of jobs in brick industry. Claims Hanson put up prices and brick quality declined. End of Side B End of interview Original Interview 45 mins

22 November 2001

From: 1930 To: 2001

item

London Brick Company,
Hanson Brick Limited

brick worker, bicycles, farm labourer, eggs, rabbits, punishment, college, Italians, kiln, injury, general health, trades unions, courts, wages/conditions, unemployed, CRANFIELD, Cheshire, STEWARTBY