Brick-maker wins commission to help with development of £92m property

York Handmade Brick Company has provided thousands of bricks and arches for a new London residential development.

This lucrative commission was worth nearly £250,000 for the Alne-based firm. Its specially-manufactured bricks are a key feature of the £92m 1 Molyneux Street building, in Marylebone, in London’s West End.

This flagship five-storey building is the largest and most expensive traditional brick-built building to be constructed in the West End since the Edwardian era. It comprises 32 luxury one, two and three-bedroom apartments and duplexes.

Guy Armitage, managing director of York Handmade, said: “This was an incredibly prestigious project for us and a great honour to provide so many bricks for such a landmark building in the heart of London.

“It was crucial that the bricks we provided fitted in seamlessly with the rest of the historic red-brick buildings of Molyneux Street. We created a special Molyneux blend for the main façade of the building, which we are very proud of. The brick were not a traditional size and we used our popular long thin Maxima range, which has worked perfectly.

Alex Wheeler, of Stevenage-based Marshmoor Bricks, secured the contract for York Handmade.

He explained: “The architects were clear what they wanted – a premium aesthetic brick, but UK-made. York Handmade developed bespoke products to match each colour in the brickwork.

“The result is a polychromatic masterpiece. It is a brilliant synthesis of traditional form and modern design. I often travel down Edgware Road en route to clients and regularly detour to look at it. I’m proud to have been part of a very British project.”

Designed by Shard Architecture, the development – and the street – are named after a grand brick townhouse owned by Vice Admiral Molyneux Shuldham, who was once the governor of Newfoundland. More recently, it was occupied by Elliott House, a Metropolitan Police base built in 1939. It was then demolished to make way for this development.

Armitage added: “This is another significant string to our bow in London. We are proud to be part of a rich tradition in London, where brick continues to be in material that helps buildings to bridge the divide between the traditional and the contemporary, as well as giving them a unique and individual look.

“This is evident in our work in the capital, including on buildings as prominent as the Shard, Highgate Junior School, London Bridge Station, London Bridge Place, the old Highbury Stadium and Carmelite House on the Victoria Embankment.”