At the brick works in 1928

Market Lavington brick works was still in operation in 1928 and here we see a picture taken across the clay pits towards the buildings.

A view of the brick works in 1928

Running diagonally across the picture we can see the little railway, used for manhandling trucks of clay between the pit and the works.

Towards the left side of the picture we can see the brick master’s house, now called Mowbray House. It has distinctive chimneys. The second set of three are hidden behind a tree.

To the right is the extensive range of buildings a brickworks needed. So many tasks were involved, preparing clay, forming bricks and allowing nature to dry them out, firing them and cooling them. No wonder such a space was needed. Surviving buildings are now used by ATAC making chemical analysing equipment.

The clay pits were filled with refuse, levelled and various businesses now operate in that area. This is best seen in an aerial view. It just isn’t seen from Broadway, the road past the brickworks.

An aerial view of the old brick works site

Easterton School – 1928

Photos like today’s make us realise we have a huge amount to learn. This picture, taken just about within living memory, has but one named person. The photo was given to the museum by that person’s daughter and it shows members of Easterton School in 1928.

Easterton School children in 1928

There appear to be some 40 youngsters. Some – they’d be approaching 90 – could be alive today. Many will have children who might recognise them. There are, no doubt, dozens of grandchildren who may realise one of the people in the photo is their ancestor. There are, no doubt, plenty of great grandchildren as well.

Our one named person is the smart chap at the left hand end of the middle row. He is Ralph Maule who became a baker and tradesman in Easterton. Of course, we’d like to hear from anyone who can name other children here so let’s zoom in a bit to make faces clearer.

  

 

I want to ride my bicycle

So sang Freddy Mercury and the rest of the band, Queen.

So also said Sybil Perry, former resident of Market Lavington – well she said something akin to it.

Sybil was actually born in Hertfordshire, but her ancestors were Market Lavington people – none other than the famous Smith family who had been dew pond diggers for centuries. Sybil came to live in Market Lavington at the age of four in 1924. At first the family lived with her grandparents Smith on White Street in Market Lavington.

Sybil attended Market Lavington School and, at the Museum Miscellany on 14^th September in the Community Hall (7.30 pm with tickets at a fiver each available from the village Post Office) we hope to present some of Sybil’s memories of being a school pupil.

Her mother, Mrs Baker, was actually a teacher at the school.

Sybil left Market Lavington School at age 11 for she passed the scholarship and went to Devizes Grammar School.

In 1948 Sybil married Desmond Perry. She became the Mrs Perry that many people remember her as.

After a spell away, Sybil returned to Market Lavington School as a teacher.

She and Des moved away from the village in 1994 to be nearer family but Sybil maintained a close contact, hand writing memories and recording some on tape.

Sybil died in 2010.

But what about the bicycle? That comes from Sybil’s memories.

Sybil Baker, later Mrs Perry, rides her bicycle in about 1928.

What a charming photograph.