Hepworth Brick Refractory

In 1921 Hepworth Iron obtained a GPO contract. For the supply of clayware conduit for the protection of underground telephone cables.

There after the manufacture of conduit formed an increasing proportion of the company's business until 1938. When it ceased brick production altogether and concentrated all its manufacturing of conduit and clay pipes.

In the post war period this pattern continued with increasing emphasison conduit until 1958, when Government cutbacks in public expenditure reduced demand.

Hepworth Iron then began to apply manufacturing techniques developed for producing long runs of conduit for the production of clay pipes.

In the United Kingdom Hepworth Iron's vitrified clay pipes have remained a cost-effective alternative to pipes of other materials. Mainly plastics. Which have largely supplanted clay pipes for use in underground pipe systems in most other countries.

Hepworth was formed in 1970 to effect a merger between Hepworth Iron and General Refractories Group Ltd. The latter had its origins about the turn of the century as a brick company.

The Sheffield site closed down sometime in the early 190s and it seems was acquired by Bovis Homes. For redevelopment into housing but this hasnt happened.

Although the site is rather large there isnt really a lot left insid. Its been stripped to an inch of its life. There are a few buildings left with bits of conveyor systems still in situ and random bits of machinery but apart from that little else remains.

The only thing that really justifies a visit here is the scale of the place and its history apart from that and the copius amounts of bricks left all over the show it really isnt that inspiring, a shame really.