About Us

Marl Cottage is located on the site of the disused Colwall Brickworks. The brickworks started in 1890 and stopped producing bricks in approximately 1902. Due to the heavy, wet, clay conditions it was considered too expensive to fire the bricks. The brick-making machinery was removed from the site during the second world war and used for the war effort and the buildings demolished. The foundations of some of the buildings remain. Marl Cottage was originally the site office to the works and remained unoccupied until about 1941 when it was converted into a dwelling. It was subject to an improvement order in 1987 and was partly demolished, modernised and extended in 1988 and extended to its present condition in 2003. The third of an acre pond at the rear of the cottage is where the clay was excavated. It is estimated to have provided 4.5 million bricks, sufficient for approximately 200 two-up/two down houses (or 100 more substantial houses). It now provides an ideal natural site for wildlife.