Three Davidges

We have met Edwin Davidge before on this blog. He worked at the brick works and lived at a cottage on that site. Today we look at his wife and two of their children. The photo has been given a touch of artistic colour.

Mary Jane, Herbert and Gladys Davidge of Market Lavington

Mary Jane Davidge was born in the parish of West Lavington in about 1869. She had been Miss Mary Jane Hibberd. She married Edwin in 1888. By the time of the 1911 census she had borne Edwin 10 children of which eight were still living. The youngest pair and the pair in this photo were Herbert and Gladys. Herbert was born in around 1906 and Gladys in 1908. The photo could date from about 1918.

Mary Jane stayed a Market Lavington inhabitant from marriage until her death in 1962. She joined her husband, Edwin, who had died in 1930, in the churchyard in Market Lavington. In 1939 she lived at 26 Spin Hill. Gladys was with her. Indeed Gladys was still living there in the 1960s and when she died, in 1990, she was certainly still in the area.

We know less of Herbert. He died in 1970 in the New Forest area.

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On the clay pit

A few days ago we featured Tom George who was born at the brickworks in 1920. His father was the manager there.

We have him again today, this time playing on a raft on the clay pit.

Tom George on a claypit raft in 1931

These days we hold up our hands in horror at the idea of kids playing on industrial sites. But Tom lived there and we are pleased to report he is still a fit man today.

The photo dates from 1931 and also shows Bert, Tom’s father and also his sister, Amy.

Tom’s father and sister are watching on

We are assured the water was only 2 feet 6 inches deep.

What a lovely photo of life in what looks to have been a fairly carefree childhood.

The old clay pit

Many people, these days, will not realise that Market Lavington once had a brick works. Actually, buildings still survive from the old works and still find industrial and residential use down at Broadway. But the pit where clay was dug has vanished entirely, filled with refuse and then surfaced. If you know where Mike Garbutt keeps his lorries you have about the right place.

This was the scene after the brick works closed.

The old clay pit at Broadway, Market Lavington

It looks like a peaceful, rural lake and is quite substantial in size. This was where clay was dug to make Lavington bricks.

In the background we can see the brick master’s house, built by William Box.

The brick master’s house. It still stands

And next to that the high roof behind the sheds still exists as well.

Former brick works buildings

The photo dates from the 1950s

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