Hoxne Brickworks
The brick and tile works in Hoxne were operated by Charles Robinson between 1883 and 1888, followed by the Hoxne Brickworks Company and finally Banham and Son between 1925 and 1937, with pipe manufacturing continuing until 1965. However, brick manufacture on this site possibly dates back to a much earlier date (13th/14th century) and John Frere recorded brickworks at this site in 1797.
In 1797 John Frere sent a letter to Rev. John Brand, Secretary of the Society of Antiquaries describing his observations of flints, now known as palaeolithic hand-axes, being found in a hole dug by brickworkers in Hoxne. The only reaction to this letter from the Society was that he was thanked for his 'curious and most interesting communication'. His letter was subsequently published in Archaeologia (Vol. 13, 204-5) in 1800.
For this reason alone, Hoxne Brickworks earns its place in any local history, but the site has also given its name to a the Hoxnian Inter Glacial period.
During 1971-1974 and 1978 the last and most extensive archaeological excavations were undertaken on this site. These were directed in the field by John Wymer on behalf of Professor Ronald Singer of the Department of Anatomy, University of Chicago, in collaboration with numerous specialists.
By the latter part of the 19th century, the Hoxne brickyards had extended to both sides of the Hoxne to Eye road, the western more recent pit being known as the Oakley Park Pit, this being the place where the excavations were undertaken in the 1970s.