Introduction
This is one of the many sites I visited recently whilst on an exploring trip in South Wales. It’s been on my to-do list for a while and although it’s only a simple little place I was really keen to do it. Note: This is a re-post following the deletion of the original thread from a few months ago.
History
Nestled alongside a public footpath/cycleway on the edge of Carmarthenshire-based village, Horeb, lies an old brickworks site which is being taken over by nature at an expeditious rate.
The site opened in 1907 alongside the Llanelly and Mynydd Mawr railway line which, as mentioned above, is now a cycleway. The works began as the Blackthorn Brick Company, later becoming Eclipse Brickworks and finally Horeb Brick Company until its closure in the late sixties.
A highlight of this particular site is that it has one of the last remaining near-complete examples of a Hoffmann Kiln in the United Kingdom. Due to this, the site is a scheduled monument and the kiln itself is Grade II listed.
Vandalism is minimal with the exception of a large graffiti tag at the base of the chimney, and piles of beer cans in part of the kiln.
In addition to the kiln and the 30-metre high chimney stack, the site also boasts the remains of an engine house and a small administration block which is a shell, but still boasts the odd recognisable feature or two such as an old fireplace and chimney.
The Explore
My visit to this site was very relaxed, parking was difficult but managed to find a spot about a ten-minute walk up the road. Even though it's quite a simple place, I really enjoyed my visit here and if I was in the area in future I would be keen to visit again. It would be nice to see it in the winter when the overgrowth isn’t quite as towering.
The Photos
Starting off with the chimney...
Various shots of the Hoffmann Kiln...
Old fireplace and chimney from the ruined admin block...
I believe this to be the old boiler house...
Thanks for looking!
This is one of the many sites I visited recently whilst on an exploring trip in South Wales. It’s been on my to-do list for a while and although it’s only a simple little place I was really keen to do it. Note: This is a re-post following the deletion of the original thread from a few months ago.
History
Nestled alongside a public footpath/cycleway on the edge of Carmarthenshire-based village, Horeb, lies an old brickworks site which is being taken over by nature at an expeditious rate.
The site opened in 1907 alongside the Llanelly and Mynydd Mawr railway line which, as mentioned above, is now a cycleway. The works began as the Blackthorn Brick Company, later becoming Eclipse Brickworks and finally Horeb Brick Company until its closure in the late sixties.
A highlight of this particular site is that it has one of the last remaining near-complete examples of a Hoffmann Kiln in the United Kingdom. Due to this, the site is a scheduled monument and the kiln itself is Grade II listed.
Vandalism is minimal with the exception of a large graffiti tag at the base of the chimney, and piles of beer cans in part of the kiln.
In addition to the kiln and the 30-metre high chimney stack, the site also boasts the remains of an engine house and a small administration block which is a shell, but still boasts the odd recognisable feature or two such as an old fireplace and chimney.
The Explore
My visit to this site was very relaxed, parking was difficult but managed to find a spot about a ten-minute walk up the road. Even though it's quite a simple place, I really enjoyed my visit here and if I was in the area in future I would be keen to visit again. It would be nice to see it in the winter when the overgrowth isn’t quite as towering.
The Photos
Starting off with the chimney...
Various shots of the Hoffmann Kiln...
Old fireplace and chimney from the ruined admin block...
I believe this to be the old boiler house...
Thanks for looking!
