A chance encounter with a familiar name on a Caribbean pavement has uncovered the fascinating history of Buckley, a small town in Flintshire, Wales, and its once-thriving brick-making industry.
Steve Thomas, 64, and his wife Julie were exploring the island of Antigua during a Caribbean cruise when they stumbled upon a paving slab bearing the words “Buckley, Flintshire”. The discovery sparked their curiosity about the town’s rich past and its global reach.
For over 250 years, until 2003, building materials produced in Buckley were exported to various parts of the British Empire and beyond, including London, New York, Australia, and Qatar. The town’s bricks were renowned for their quality and became a sought-after commodity in regions with hot climates and thriving industries.
“I’m from Wales, so it’s a sense of national pride really,” Steve Thomas said. “It’s the other side of the world, and Wales has helped play a part in building it.”
According to Kevin Williams, the chairman of the Buckley Society, the town’s bricks were “world-famous”. The local geography, with its abundant coal seams and accessible clay deposits, provided the perfect conditions for the brick-making industry to thrive.
By the early 19th century, there were around 14 factories in the Buckley area, producing bricks to meet the rapid growth in construction during the Industrial Revolution. The bricks were transported to various destinations, including parts of the London Underground and locations in Hartlepool and Leeds, closer to home.
Sadly, the last Buckley brickworks, Lane End, closed in 2004, and the town’s iconic chimneys, once a prominent feature of the skyline, have since been demolished. However, the legacy of Buckley’s bricks lives on, with traces of the town’s handiwork found in unexpected corners of the globe.
“My family, along with the family of my friends, have been involved in building some really important parts of the world,” said Williams, who has dedicated his time to tracking the history of the town and its brick-making industry.
The chance discovery by the Thomases serves as a reminder of the far-reaching impact that a small town can have, and how the products of its labour can leave a lasting mark on the world.
