Dennis Brick Factory

Dennis Brick Factory

The discovery of vast quantities of high quality Etruria Marl clay in the Ruabon area in the 19th Century heralded the beginning of tile and terracotta production on a vast scale. By the turn of the 20th Century, several factories employed roughly 2,000 people. Workers produced massive amounts of terracotta, earning the village of Ruabon the nickname Terracottapolis. But it was for the distinctive red bricks that the area became famous. The material was so popular it was used to build schools, hospitals, universities, law courts, pubs and other key buildings in cities across the country.The most famous of the industrialists in Wrexham in the late 19th Century was Henry Dennis, who founded the company in 1878 that would later become Dennis Ruabon Tiles Ltd. Dennis, born in Bodmin, Cornwall, studied civil engineering and travelled to Wales to supervise construction of a tramway at a slate quarry near Llangollen. After a stint in Spain at a lead mine, he later returned to Wales after amassing a considerable personal fortune. Dennis became managing director of the Hafod Colliery and by 1878, had established the Hafod Brickworks. By 1893, a new factory which became known as the "Red Works", was constructed on the site where the present-day building still stands. There, workers produced ridge tiles, chimney pots, tiles and other products using 24 coal-fired "Beehive" kilns.The business flourished at a time when demand for the red bricks and terracotta was high. By the time of his death in 1906, Dennis had established himself as a giant of the industry, ensuring that his firm - and the name of Ruabon - had been forever cemented in British architectural history. He also had interests in collieries, lead mines and water and gas, and is thought to have employed up to 10,000 people. Under the control of his son, Henry Dyke Dennis, the Hafod brickworks became a private limited company in 1934 - Dennis Ruabon Limited - and continued to produce materials including tiles, chimney pots and ornamental terracotta. In 1944, Dennis's grandson, Patrick Gill Dyke Dennis, took control and launched a modernisation programme. By the end of the 1970s, brick production had largely ended, and the company concentrated its efforts on making quarry tiles.Henry Dennis founded the Hafod Brickworks in 1878 to capitalise on the reserves of Etruria Marl Clay found in the Ruabon area. Such was the popularity of its products - bricks, ridge tiles, chimney pots and the famous Ruabon quarry tile – it became known as the ‘Red Factory’.
Partial visit due to Kronaspan logging operations on site blocking ost of the buildings.It was with this new constructed factory Red Works, where the birth of arguably the best known and quality of tile and bricks in Britain.

During the early 1900s, most buildings within proximity of the Red Works, and even around Britain, were constructed with bricks and tiles which were manufactured at the site.

In 1934 Red Works was under control of Henry Dennis' Son, Henry Dyke Dennis, and became a private limited company known as Dennis Ruabon Limited.

The newly changed business was continuing to grow with popularity and demand for Ruabon bricks, tiles and terracotta products.

After 10 years of the business growing in popularity and demand, in 1944 Dennis' grandson, Patrick Gill Dyke Dennis, took control and launched a modernisation programme at the Dennis Ruabon Limited site.

The content on this channel is to explore abandoned locations, paranormal investigations, ghost hunting and related content.

Viewers are strongly advised not to trespass, endanger themselves do not attempt to copy the activities shown in these videos.

Always respect private property....

Do you enjoy haunted and abandoned places? if so consider subscribing & dropping us a like & share...

Instagram
@jks_abandoned_explorers
TikTok
@jksabandonedexplorers
Facebook
Jks Explorers

#abandoned #abandonedplaces #abandonedbuilding #abandonedfactory #explorer #explore #exploreing #urbanadventure #urbanactivity #urbanexploration #urban #urbex #urbexuk #urbexexplore #northwales