Forterra pays tribute to London Brick on film

Building products manufacturer Forterra has created a short film about the tireless work of its London Brick archivist, Andrew Mortlock.

Mortlock, who, prior to becoming the archivist,  completed 45 years of service for the company after starting as a messenger in 1967, is one of four generations of his family to have worked making London Brick. Over the last 10 years, he has curated an extraordinary collection of artefacts and memorabilia about London Brick and the generations of families who have worked at its factories.

The London Brick archive is located on site at the King’s Dyke factory in Whittlesey, near Peterborough, where the brick is made. London Brick was first manufactured in 1877, when James McCallum-Craig bought a property at auction near Peterborough, known as Fletton Lodge. Almost 150 years later the same brick can be found in approximately 23% of England’s housing stock. Today, it is produced almost exclusively for the residential renovation, maintenance and improvement market.

Mortlock says: “I regularly hear from people researching their ancestry who would like information or to corroborate tales they’ve heard from family members who worked here. The archive has also become a repository for people who have memorabilia, newspaper cuttings or trinkets that relate to London Brick. Through these donations and the support of Forterra, I’ve been able to grow the archive to what it is today. We have everything from old newsletters, photographs, paintings, awards and cine film reel to an 82-year-old AEC Mammoth delivery truck that still runs today.”

Stephen Harrison, Chief Executive of Forterra, said: “The London Brick archive is a wonderful showcase of our heritage here at Forterra and of the incredible dedication of Andrew and of the generations of workers who have helped make us who we are today. The film we’ve created with Andrew explores this beautifully. I would like to thank Andrew for his dedication preserving this unique and fascinating history.”