Cattybrook Brickworks

<googlemap lat="51.547776" lon="-2.594919"> 51.545855, -2.595327, Cattybrook Brickworks </googlemap>

To Bristol, the North or London: Patchway Tunnels
To Wales: Badgers Lane

History

Cattybrook Brick Works came about when the Bristol & South Wales Union Railway was building its line to New Passage Pier. The engineer of the line, Charles Richardson, was impressed by the quality of the clay being dug out of Patchway Tunnel and decided to lease a few acres of land at Cattybrook in 1865. The brickworks went on to supply 74,400,000 bricks for the Severn Tunnel. They were also used for building Portishead Power Station, Fry's factory at Keynsham and the offices of the Imperial Tobacco Co. in Bristol.

1960s

• 
  A train struggles up the hill towards the tunnels at Patchway... © Gerald Peacock
• 
  ...and has a banker on the rear. © Gerald Peacock
• 
  5954 storms under Over Lane and heads for Wales. © Gerald Peacock

1970s

• 
  A Hymeck trundles under the footbride with a short freight. © Andy Kirkham

2004

15.2.04

• 
  The entrance to the works is on Over Lane, Almondsbury.
• 
  Standing on the footbridge at Cattybrook and looking back at the twin bore Patchway Tunnels.
• 
  A footbridge crosses the line at this location.
• 
  A view across the works themselves.
• 
  The view towards Wales. Pilning station is just around the curve in the track, just before where the electricity pylons visible in the distance cross the track.