Messrs Barke, Brickmakers, Sutton in Ashfield

With the help of Marg at Sutton Library, I can now present the information from the Census about the brickworks owned by the Barke family on Mansfield Road as well as the trade directory information previously found.

In the 1871 Census Aaron Barke from Selston is recorded as living at the Beer House, Mansfield Road working as a brickmaker aged 48.
In the 1881 Census, Aaron, 58, son George, 23, also brickmaker, both living at the Beer House. 
In the 1891 Census, Aaron 68 is now Publican & living at the Potmakers Arms. George 33, is now joined by another son John 31, Pan Tile Maker, both living with Aaron.
The 1901 Census shows George, 43 as the Publican of the Potmakers Arms. Aaron is no longer recorded.
George in the 1911 Census is recorded as Brickmaker & living with his wife at 11 Apollo Road, which was just across the road from the Potmakers Arms, aged 54. 

The Mansfield Road brickworks (field 178), where they all worked was behind the Potmakers Arms (Beer House) & is recorded on the 1877 map below. This works is shown again on the 1899 map, but on the 1917 map the brick yard has gone & been replaced by a football field, to be later followed by the town's dog track, then houses.

 © Crown Copyright. Reproduced with permission of Ordnance Survey 1877.

This advert appeared in the Nottingham Evening Post, 11th April 1872 - Brickmakers wanted - Apply Aaron Barke, Sutton Forest Side Brick & Tile Works near Mansfield.

Aaron Barke is listed as brickmaker in Kelly's & White's Trade Directories from 1876 to 1908 editions. From 1876 to 1900 the Mansfield Road works is listed as Eastfield Road, Forest Side Brick Works & Forest Side, Nottm. Then in the 1904 edition Aaron is recorded at Skegby, Mansfield & then on the next line underneath, Mrs Louisa Barke, Aaron's wife (brick & tile maker) Mansfield Road, S-in-A. The 1908 entry just lists Aaron at Skegby. 

We next find in the 1912 & 1916 editions the brickworks at Skegby is now recorded as Barke Brothers, so sons George & John are now in charge. I do not have any bricks made by any of the Barke family at the moment, so they may not have stamped their bricks ?

Although I do not know the location of the family's Skegby Works, the one which I have coloured green on 1913 OS map below appears to be the main contender with it being available during the period of time the family are recorded as brickmaking in Skegby.

 © Crown Copyright. Reproduced with permission of NLS/Ordnance Survey 1913.