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.”
