Brickmaking

There were once many brickworks in Pembrokeshire. Some developed where good clay was found, close to easy sea landing points such as Porthgain, Penycwm, Wisemans Bridge and Angle. Later other appeared near new railway lines like Johnston, Templeton and Goodwick.

Brickmaking is said to have started in the county around the 17th Century, though not on a particularly large scale. There are several examples of early bricks being used for building found at several locations around the county, many of which were probably produced locally.

The large walled garden at Landshipping was built of brick in the late 17th Century. The old mansion at Orielton Estate near Pembroke was probably built of bricks in the 1730's, and the foundations may still survive under the present house, and the banqueting tower is also of brick.

There were extensive brickworks established at Cardigan in the 1860's, and bricks were made from about the same period at Porthgain. These bricks were made from slate waste and clay from quarry pits, which made them extremely dense and tough.

Other late 19th Century and early 20th Century brickworks were located at Goodwick, Haverfordwest, Angle, Johnston and Llanddewi Velfrey. At Templeton and Wiseman's Bridge there were bricks made specifically for the coal industry.

The Pembrokeshire brickmaking industry deteriated in the middle of the 20th Century due to increased competition from larger more afficient factories.