The award-winning York Handmade Brick Company has landed a hat-trick of prestigious
commissions from the National Trust.
York Handmade, based at Alne, near Easingwold, is suppling bricks for
Little Moreton Hall in Congleton, Cheshire, Dunham Massey in Altrincham and
Goddards in Tadcaster Road, York.
The three Trust properties are currently being renovated.
Mark Laksevics of York Handmade, commented: “We are tremendously proud to
be playing such a pivotal role in the appearance and construction of three of
the National Trust’s most distinctive properties in the north of England.
“Our relationship with the National Trust has blossomed this year, which
is allowing us to manufacture and showcase our finest special bricks. These
bricks perfectly complement the unique character of all three properties and
merge seamlessly with their historic appearance.”
Little Moreton Hall is an iconic moated and half-timbered Tudor
manor house with a quirky character and gorgeous gardens. The National Trust
has been restoring two historic chimney stacks this year, with the help of York
Handmade.
John Evans of the
National Trust explained: “The repointing of the chimney stacks at Little
Moreton Hall required replacement bricks and, as York Handmade
are widely known in the conservation sector for their handmade bricks, they
were the obvious choice to help us with this project.
“The company provided
four different blends and sizes of bricks for this project, which has been
completed successfully. They have been very helpful and great to work with and
I would heartily recommend them.”
Meanwhile Dunham Massey Hall
is a magnificent 17th century English country house, near
Altrincham, Greater Manchester. It boasts a walled garden for all seasons, an
ancient deer park and a house filled with treasures from the last four centuries.
Paula Baron of the National Trust explained: “We are using York
Handmade’s bricks on the chimney of the Coach House and on two barns on the
wider 300-acre estate. The work will be completed by the end of this year,
weather permitting. We have ordered a constant supply of York Handmade’s brick
to ensure we don’t run out.
“The open texture of their
bricks was a good match and perfect for this project. We have built up an excellent relationship and we had
a wonderful behind the scenes tour of York Handmade’s factory when we came over
to York for the day. They couldn’t have been more accommodating.”
Finally, York Handmade
has just begun supplying bricks for the restoration of Goddards, one of York’s finest
private houses, situated in Tadcaster Road, close to York Racecourse. An Arts
and Crafts house, it was built in 1927 for Noel and Kathleen Terry of the famed
chocolate-manufacturing family Terry's. It was designed by the great York architect
Walter Brierley and was acquired by The National Trust in 1984.
Mark Laksevics concluded:
“It has been a joy to work with the National Trust on these projects. The role
the Trust plays in conservation and enhancing the UK’s heritage is absolutely
crucial and for us, as a company, to support the Trust in this role is both
deeply satisfying and humbling. We hope this special relationship continues for
many years to come.”