Experiencing Brick Field

I had a wonderful time experiencing the production of bricks with the Brickfield project, part of the White Gold Project

Brick Field is part of the Austell Project which focuses on the cultural heritage of the clay country of the St Austell region. Initiated by Rosanna Martin and Georgia Gendall at Blackpool Pit, Trewoon, St Austell in 2019, it set up an artisanal kiln and members of the community were invited to come and learn the ancient and traditional art of brick making. The traditional recipe for the brick clay was used and moulds created, and bricks were fired in the kiln, with sometimes dramatic effects of glowing chimneys and flames emerging from the openings. My own efforts were a bit hit and miss – one requires a really good throw down technique to get a good clean brick in the mould, and I fear I lacked a bit of muscle power!