Sheffield Independent – Saturday 13 December 1919

Brickworks for Bolton Lead

Given the Country In Public Ownership.

It was announced at last night’s meeting of the Bolton-on Dearne Council, that the Government had sanctioned the raising of a loan of £2,200 for the purchase of local brick works.

Councillor Williams said that in view of the great combinations producers, he was that Bolton, this purchase, would “free themselves from their tentacles.” No greater insult had been hurled at local a union ties than the calling in private enterprise to help them in their housing schemes. Private enterprise was responsible for the housing difficulties of today, and they could not expect private firms to solve the problem. He was very proud that Bolton was the first public authority in the country to manufacture their own bricks for their housing scheme, and other purposes.

Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 13 December 1919

Council as Brickmakers.

Bolton-upon-Dearne Council has obtained sanction to purchase a brickyard at Bolton, as already referred to in the “Sheffield Telegraph.’’

“We are going to make our own bricks to get over the difficulties of transport, of supplies, and shortage raw material, and prices,” said Mr. Ledger Hawksworth to our representative. “We are paying 24s. 6d. to 30s. per thousand bricks for cartage, we are cutting up our roads by the same, and we are employed transport which could be better used elsewhere.”

The Bill concerning the purchase of the water undertaking Bolton, Hoyland and Darfield Urban District Councils, from the Dearne Valley Water Company will be deposited on Wednesday next.