b'Bishop Wilton with BelthorpeLocal History Bulletin 17 -14 May 2008The Brickyard at Bishop WiltonPart 2Andrew SeftonF ollowing on from my article in Bulletin 15, moreIt can be seen that by 1880, Bishop Wilton information has since emerged on the latter yearsbrickyard was having difficulty competing with Garton of the brickyard, thanks to David Neave, who providedon price, even to a nearby village such as Thixendale.me with a reference to the records of the Sykes familyIn a letterdated 5th May 1885 to Thomas Grant, stored in Hull University. There is correspondencebuilder of Pocklington, from William Southall, land between Sir Tatton Sykes and the Pocklington builderagent at Sledmere: Thomas Grant, who is obviously in charge of sub- Dear Sir, letting the brickyard to tenant brick-makers at hisEnclosed I send you a cheque for your own discretion. It seems that by 1880 Thomas Grantaccount to the end of Sep. Sir Tatton Sykes was having problems finding a suitable tenant for thewill not be disposed to take the brickyard brickyard which was having difficulty delivering bricksplant, so if you can meet with an applicant at a price competitive with Garton, or with brickssuitable for the place, and send him to me, made in Driffield or Malton. A typical example of thisI shall be glad to negotiate a tenancy with is a letterto Sir Tatton dated May 28th 1880 from hishim.land agent, which examines the cost of bricks to beThis letter shows that they were actively looking supplied to George Galtrey at Thixendale Gills Farm:for a new tenant for Bishop Wilton brickyard. It was The price in the yard at Bishop Wilton isstill operating in 1885; as my last article shows, there 30/- per 1000, less 2/- for cash monthly.is a reference to a letter being sent to the attendance The expense getting them from thereofficer of the Bishop Wilton school on July 28th 1885 28/- per 1000. There is clay thrown up atconcerning the half-time boys at the brickyard being Garton for 1,100,000. I would think therefrequently kept at work all day. would be plenty to have from there andThe closure date must have been sometime in the following is the cost for leading them to1886 as a letterindicating that it was imminent was Galtreys direct from the brick yard at Gartonwritten on 24th December 1885 to Thomas Grant, 30/- per 1000, if put on a train from Gartonbuilder of Pocklington, from the same land agent:to Fimber. The carriage from Brick YardDear Sir,to Fimber will be 7/6 per 1000 and fromIf you are quite decided to discontinue the Fimber to Galtreys 15/- per 1000. It is 7/6working of the Bishop Wilton Brickyard less that way, but then there is breakageand cannot succeed in meeting with a to be considered as they are loaded andsuccessor for the trade, I shall be quite unloaded 4 times, but still I dont think thatready to afford you every facility by allowing the breakages would cost 7/6 per 1000. you to let the plant remain longer than the To that the cost of bricks and leading fromdate of the expiration of your notice. I shall Bishop Wilton to Galtreys would be 58/-be pleased to meet you on the premises at per 1000 direct from brickyard to Galtreys.the earliest convenient opportunity.At 52/- from train to Fimber thence toIt is also obvious from the correspondence that the Galtreys at 45/- per 1000. The above is asbrickyards were hardly viewed as sources of revenue near as I can make out. The price per 1000for the estate. A letterdated 29th Sept 1886 to E.J. from Bishop Wilton is higher in proportionSumner from Wm. Southall demonstrates this:but it is a very bad load all up hill.318 BULLETIN 17'