The Brickworks‘, Bridge, Kent.

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Rgnort cn_eXispjge kiln.

T

-n aeeorsanee with instructions received

from Messrs Saltwell and Co. I made a survey

of the above, in the occupation of Mr Jones;

on ifith April 1927 and have to report as follows.

The existing kiln,

The existing kiln is an old open kiln
eonsuming wood fuel of a nominal capacity of
40,000 bricks but which, in its present state,
will only hold 36,000. Under normal conditions
the total annual yutput is about 240,000 bricks.

_, The kiln is in a Worn and dilapidated
condition, the upper prts of the external walls
being badly cracked and bulged. The whole
of the furnaces, flues and floor are in a
defective state due to the intense heat
generated in the burning of the bricks.

The upper part of the external walls should
be taken down and rebuilt and the furnaces,
flues and floor similarly treated and lined _
with firebrick where subjected to the greatest
heat. .
The level of the furnaces is so much below
the-ground level that in heavy storms they are
liable to be dangerously flooded.

I was informed by the Tenant that the
difficulty of obtaining adequate supplies of
wood fuel at an economic price has become so
serious that unless some‘means of changing over
to coal fuel can be devised he will be unable
to continue the business. .

The cost of the execution of the work necessary
to put the kiln in sound working order in its
present form would be approximately £211.0.0.

Of this amount £99.0.0 would be for labour

"and cartage and:£112.0.0 for materials to be

supplied by the Landlord under the terms of
the tenancy agreement,

Alternative proposals.

The alternative proposals submitted for
consideration are as follows.
1; Alteration of existing kiln for coal

"consumption.

2. Erection of modern twin coal fired kiln.


 n,nf o bnrn coal.

As a result of enquiries amog local Brickmakers
I find that until a few years ago similar kilns
to this have been used for making red bricks
consuming coal.

For an extra cost of about £70, over and
above the sum of £231.0.o already mentioned
as the cost of putting the kiln into sound
repair, the flues and furnaces could be
adapted to burn coal.

Beyond the fact that this method is now
out of date owing to the extravagant use of
coal, waste of heat and dependence on fine
weather for satisfactory results, is the more
serious question of the dense clouds of black
smoke emitted during burning which might lead
to complaints by the local Health Authority.

If this conversion were made the annual output
would remain the same and the danger of flooded
furnaces would not be removed.

Mo 0 - i ed '1 .

The Tenant has expressed a desire for a twin
coal fired kiln built on up-to-date lines with
a down instead of an up—draught.

I have inspected two such kilns in the
neighbourhood and find that the total cost
of building a twin kiln of a total capacity
of 80,000 bricks would be about £800.0.0,
assuming it were built by an outside contractor;

The new kiln could be built near the
existing one and at a greatly reduced fuel
consumption per 1000 bricks the total annual
output could be easily doubled.

The main advantage of a twin kiln is that
while one compartment is burning the other is
being emptied or filled, so that valuable time
at present more or less waited in waiting for
the single kiln to burn is usefully employed.

It is not impossible to build a kiln of this
type and capacity for less but an examination
of such a kiln built about two years ago at a"
cost of about half the above sum,which will
shortly have to be completely rebuilt,prevents
the recommendation of cheap construction;

General gemakg.

It appears advisable, before embarking on
additional capital outlay, to excavate a few
test holes in the future brickearth area in


order to ascertain that a sufficient supply
of good raw material is available for the future.

At present an increasing demand for red
bricks warrants the extra capital expenditure.

If an increased rent cannot be obtained
I suggest that an increased royalty on a doubled
output would produce the neceanry increase in
revenue.

W.Leonard Grant.
High Street.
25th April 1927. Sittingbourne.