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Journal of the Nelson and Marlborough Historical Societies, Volume 1, Issue 5, October 1985

Elevation Brick Kiln

Elevation Brick Kiln

This kiln was started in the 1880 by a Mr Entwistle. Unlike the Tua Marina works it had two round kilns joined together by a flue instead of one oblong kiln. The motive power for pugging the clay was supplied by a horse pulling on a long pole attached to a cog wheel. The horse had to be blindfolded otherwise it would stop if anyone approached.

page 56
BrickworksCement works, top of elevation. — (Marlborough Historic Soc.).

Brickworks [sic: Cement works], top of elevation. — (Marlborough Historic Soc.).

W. T. Daikee, who landed in Nelson in 1855 and is a great-grandfather of Bob Thomas [sic: Bob Thoms], bought it from Entwistle. Mr Daikee had started a kiln in Warwick Street, Blenheim near Cresswell's timberyard. Later he was in Grove Road on Jamieson's bakehouse section. The family built two brick houses facing Bomford Street. He took his son Henry George into partnership in 1882 and he took over the business when his father died in 1904. Daikee is responsible for many landmarks around he district. Old man Daikee erected the Wairau Massacre monument in 1866 and also Ships Cove and Motuara monuments. Daikees built His Majesty's Theatre, Express office, Blenheim Town Hall, Picton Terminus Hotel. Daikee's grandson Norm Collins demolished the Blenheim Town Hall.

While at the elevation a light tramway was built across the road to bring out wood, though his kiln was mainly fired with coal brought from Shakespeare Bay. This mine was dsicovered in 1875 although a seam, probably part of the Shakespeare Bay deposit, had been worked on Mt Freeth up a gully past the cement works as early as 1865.

As far as I can ascertain Daikee procured his clay from Tua Marina and Nolans Crossing. In 1899 Daikee received permission from the Picton Road Board for clay from Witts. At this time he started the Tua Marina works. Gibson, who worked for him sat the Tua Marina works in 1903, then A. Bary who worked for Gibson took over in 1907 later taking over the elevation works in 1920. He was last to work it and Jock Thompson bulldozed the remains away.