page_title: George Furness
section_title: Brickwork
hierarchical_section_title: George Furness / Career / Brickwork
caption_attribution_description: English: Chambers Lane, Willesden. Summary Chambers Lane, Willesden.
context_page_description: George Furness was an English Victorian construction engineer and benefactor. He described himself as a "contractor of public works". He worked all around the world, on railways, drainage, and brickwork among numerous other things.
context_section_description: In the 1870s, a sudden explosion of the construction of houses in Willesden and surrounding areas motivated Furness to form the Willesden Brick and Tile Company, situated on Chambers Lane.
  Soon after, an approximately 140-foot (43 m)-high square chimney puffed steam and smoke, from many kilns, over the surrounding area. The machinery was powered by a steam engine. It manufactured high-quality, and therefore expensive, durable red bricks. It also made cheaper brown stock bricks. Furness bought large plots of land in the area for his works. These were developed, from pasture land, into residential premises, providing houses, roads and drainage to the whole community.
  Many houses, made from these bricks, still house the current Willesden's residents. These include some houses on Ashford Road, Cedar Road, Cricklewood Broadway, Harlesden Road, Ivy Road, Larch Road, Longstone Terrace, Mora Road, Pine Road, and Taylors Lane
  Furness' bricks were used to erect St. Andrew Church. Schools in Willesden, a number of other churches, along with a school in the surrounding areas also benefited from his brickfactory. The Brick and Tile Company also produced vases, flower pots, drain pipes, glazed bricks, and roof tiles.
  Furness became one of Willesden's major employers. Many company houses were provided to rent out to employees; those on Parkfield Road are an example.
caption: Chambers Lane, where the brickworks factory used to be
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