“There were several brickworks in Sholing where at night you could see fires glowing in the kiln and clamps.In the early part of summer time the men used to start work at 4am. The young lads used to get the clay ready for the table, that was known as ‘pugging up’.”

The above oral history, from Mr. R. Vincent, gives a fairly graphic description of what it was like to work in the Sholing brickworks in the late 1890's early 1900's.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In days gone by Miller's Pond, the woodlands, and Sholing Valleys are where the gravel pits and brickworks were, running up the back of Butts Rd. Since first settled it was well known for its industry and countryside estates.

Today the five acre site comprises of Miller’s Pond and Sholing Valleys Study Centre, surrounded by woodlands. These are between the railway embankment along Portsmouth Rd and Station Rd, all surrounded by the ubiquitous sprawl of urban Southampton.

The map below however, from the 18th century, shows recognisable landmarks and names but no city, Sholing was still rural and not a part of Southampton.