Bursledon Brickworks Industrial Museum

Bursledon Brickworks closed as a working brickworks in 1974 shortly after the motorway split the site into two. Half of the site was sold by the owners, Redland, to form the location of the air traffic control centre and Swanwick Nature Reserve and the remaining part, the brickworks, was left to decay for nearly twenty years. In the early 1990’s the site was sold to Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust for a token sum of £1.00.

 

They were saved because of their unique history. For some reason the Victorian brickworks were never updated and when they closed the men working there were working in just the same way as their Victorian and Edwardian forefathers. In industry this is very rare. The site has been recognised nationally as one of high significance and it is almost definitely the only steam driven brickworks left intact in the country - possibly in Europe.

 

The museum is run by volunteers. They carry out most of the restoration work and help to man the site when the museum is open. There are paid people on site. The Lottery project included paying for help with managing the collections, education and running the museum. The museum is independent and relies on visitors for its income.

 

For further information please see the website.

Adults £5

Concessions £4

Children £3

Families £12