Publications
From the Grave to the Cradle: Centenarian Reminiscences Inspired by a Clayton MI, by F. M. Avery, published September 1976 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 2 no. 6, article, pp.200-201) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 7966] & The Keep [LIB/501254] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.
Plumpton M.I.s, by Fred Avery, published September 1978 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 3 no. 6, article, pp.186-189) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 7967] & The Keep [LIB/501255] & CD SFH40 from S.F.H.G.
Development of Burgess Hill and its Potteries (1828-1978), by Frederic M. Avery, published 1979 (17 pp., published by the author) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/502464] & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Burgess Hill Brickworks and Potteries, by Frederic M. Avery, published September 1979 in Sussex Genealogist and Family Historian (vol. 1 no. 2, article, pp.40-47) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 17603] & The Keep [LIB/501187] & CD SXGS from S.F.H.G.
Preview:Includes a genealogical table showing the connections between the Avery, Gravett and Norman families who were engaged in pottery and brickmaking in the area and in Clayton, Keymer, Ditchling, Chailey from 1812
Burgess Hill Past & Present, by Frederic M. Avery, published 1984 (booklet, 60 pp., Avery Publications, ISBN-10: 0950914606 & ISBN-13: 9780950914602) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 9134] & West Sussex Libraries
Burgess Hill in Old Picture Postcards, by Frederic M. Avery, published 1988
Burgess Hill in Old Picture Postcards, by Frederic M. Avery, published 1994 (new edition, 80 pp., Europese Bibliotheek B.V, ISBN-10: 9028846298 & ISBN-13: 9789028846296) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries
Keymer Brick and Tile Works, by Frederick M. Avery, published 2000 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 30, article, pp.29-31, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16389/30] & The Keep [LIB/506528] Download PDF
Abstract:Big hole, Big Bertha, green clay, blue lake, primrose heat, beehives, frogs and dinosaurs are all terms that may have been heard by visitors to the Keymer Works. What do these terms mean you may ask? All will be revealed in an attempt to condense the history of the Works, covering more than two and a half centuries.
Burgess Hill in Old Picture Postcards: volume 2, by Frederic M. Avery, published 2001 (Europese Bibliotheek B.V, ISBN-10: 9028835628 & ISBN-13: 9789028835627) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries
Norman and Burt: Local Builders of Renown, by Frederic M. Avery, published 1 November 2007 (Occasional papers, no. 2, 42 pp., Burgess Hill Local History Society, ISBN-10: 0954928113 & ISBN-13: 9780954928117) accessible at: Burgess Hill Local History Society & West Sussex Libraries
Norman & Burt of Burgess Hill - Local Builders of Renown, by Frederic M. Avery, published 2010 in Sussex Industrial History (issue no. 40, article, pp.2-6, ISSN: 0263-5151) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/506537] Download PDF
Abstract:In 1862 Simeon Norman started a building business in Burgess Hill from premises in London Road just south of the "Brewer's Arms" public house. He was the youngest of eleven children and his father was William Norman of Chailey whose first wife was Mary Avery (1780-1815), of Fowles Farm, St. John's Common in Clayton parish. They had three children before Mary died at the young age of 35. William's second marriage was to Barbara Leaney (1796-1867) and they had one daughter and seven sons, the youngest being Simeon, founder of the business, who was born on 3 December 1833.
Simeon's grandparents, Richard and Elizabeth Norman, built the family fortunes at the Chailey brick, tile and pottery works which they inherited in 1792, but started in the trade earlier in Burgess Hill about 1735. Simeon's father, William, continued the works which passed to his older sons Richard and Nathan. Simeon learnt his trade there as a carpenter journeyman. In 1856 Simeon married Catherine Burt, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Burt of Ditchling. The factor that influenced Simeon to establish his business may have been the building of the parish church of St. John the Evangelist, Burgess Hill which by 1861 was under construction by builder John Ellis of Chichester. The following year he established his local building business to fill a perceived "gap in the market". In 1864, Simeon invited his young brother-in-law, Henry Burt (1850 1922), then aged fourteen, to join the firm and later he became a partner in the business.
Simeon's grandparents, Richard and Elizabeth Norman, built the family fortunes at the Chailey brick, tile and pottery works which they inherited in 1792, but started in the trade earlier in Burgess Hill about 1735. Simeon's father, William, continued the works which passed to his older sons Richard and Nathan. Simeon learnt his trade there as a carpenter journeyman. In 1856 Simeon married Catherine Burt, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Burt of Ditchling. The factor that influenced Simeon to establish his business may have been the building of the parish church of St. John the Evangelist, Burgess Hill which by 1861 was under construction by builder John Ellis of Chichester. The following year he established his local building business to fill a perceived "gap in the market". In 1864, Simeon invited his young brother-in-law, Henry Burt (1850 1922), then aged fourteen, to join the firm and later he became a partner in the business.
A History of the Keymer Tile Works, by Frederic M. Avery, published 1 July 2011 (Occasional papers, no. 3, 31 pp., Burgess Hill Local History Society, ISBN-10: 0954928121 & ISBN-13: 9780954928124) accessible at: Burgess Hill Local History Society
Review by Ron Martin in Sussex Past & Present no. 125, December 2011:Keymer Tile Works has been one of the foremost works in Sussex since the nineteenth century producing good quality bricks and tiles which were used on many buildings throughout south-east England. This book traces the origins of the works and of its many owners in a great deal of detail. The works was originally set up by Sampson Copestake, an entrepreneur who bought large parts of what is now Burgess Hill and the works was well established by 1875, with Henry Johnson, by then a partner, as Johnson & Co. The works was located to the south of Cant's Lane and adjacent to the Eastbourne to Lewes railway line, firing bricks using the clamp system. After a disastrous fire in 1884, the works was substantially rebuilt and was then trading as the Keymer Brick Company, with all bricks being kiln fired and including one large Hoffman kiln. After WWI the works expanded and two more Hoffman kilns, eleven circular beehive kilns and some tunnel kilns were added.
One criticism of the book is that there is not a very coherent description of the structures on the site - the architectural drawing of No 1. Brickworks is the only one included whereas there were several; other drawings were available. Two unfortunate mistakes are that mathematical tiles pre-dated the Brick Tax by several decades and the correct name of the Brighton Children's Hospital was The Royal Alexandra Hospital for Sick Children. It is also unfortunate that some of the illustrations have not reproduced well.
As a history of the firm and its personalities this is an excellent publication and well worth having for anyone interested in brickmaking and Burgess Hill.
One criticism of the book is that there is not a very coherent description of the structures on the site - the architectural drawing of No 1. Brickworks is the only one included whereas there were several; other drawings were available. Two unfortunate mistakes are that mathematical tiles pre-dated the Brick Tax by several decades and the correct name of the Brighton Children's Hospital was The Royal Alexandra Hospital for Sick Children. It is also unfortunate that some of the illustrations have not reproduced well.
As a history of the firm and its personalities this is an excellent publication and well worth having for anyone interested in brickmaking and Burgess Hill.