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Brick maker Hanson has re-opened its iconic brickworks in Accrington, closed seven years ago as the recession started to bite.
Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne visited the brickworks today (January 8) as part of a two day tour of the north-west.
The decision to reopen the factory follows a £1.6m investment and the creation of over 30 new jobs, comes as the company tries to meet the soaring demand by the construction sector. The company also announced that it plans to create 20 further jobs at the site in 2015.
The re-start will be carried out in two stages with phase one kicking off in January and phase 2, which will require further investment of around £350,000, following later in 2015. The adjoining quarry has 30 to 40 years of clay reserves.
Bricks have been made at the Huncoat site near Accrington since 1887. They are made from fire clay and are so strong and durable that they become known in the trade as iron bricks. At one time the works chimney had the letters IRON painted vertically on it with the N at the top, prompting locals to call it the NORI brick factory.
Red Nori bricks were used in the foundations of the Blackpool Tower and the Empire State Building in New York as well as in thousands of houses, factories and schools throughout northern England.
