Mexborough & Swinton Times, 4 October 1935
A Famous Brick Maker
Retirement of Mr. Joseph Sherlock Conisborough.
Distinguished Career.
On Saturday Mr. Joseph Sherlock, senior, of Ashfield house, Sheffield Road, Conisborough, severed his connection with the clay working and brickmaking industries, when he retired from the position of regional manager for Yorkshire Amalgamated products, Ltd. Prior to being promoted to the more important position, he had been manager of the Ashfield Brick Works, Conisborough, since 1918.
Mr. Sherlock, a native of Kilburn, Derbyshire, was a member of a brickmaking family, and commenced work at an early age under his father at Kilburn. He continued there until at the age of 20 he succeeded his father as foreman.
In order to gain further experience he left for Lancashire, and was employed as a burner at Bolton. He stayed with the Brookfield Works Company for about 10 years, one of his posts been that of foreman of the Mount Pleasant brick works, Horwich, where he studied hot air drying processes, making models of kilns in cardboard and wood before he satisfied himself regarding the best type of flue.
Then for 12 years he was with Arley brickworks (wigan), Cowley brickyard’s (Chorley), and Withnall brickworks, as manager. At Withnall he reorganised the works, setting up two large kilns in overhauling the entire plant.
By this time he had gained a reputation in the industry, and he went to Ambergate to set up new works and a large kiln. Whilst there he was seen by Mr A. O. Edwards, of the Ashfield brickworks, Conisborough, who brought him over here to take over the management. Conisborough soon saw the effect of his work. First an extremely tall chimney imposed itself on the landscape, the mark of a large modern kiln, and shortly after this a companion chimney and kiln appeared. The entire plant at Conisborough was reorganised by Mr. Sherlock. Much of the labour was supplied by German prisoners of war. Mr. Sherlock also set up the Coalfield brickworks, Mexborough, for the company.
Some three years ago Yorkshire Amalgamated Products, Ltd. obtained control of the Staffordshire brick company, Ltd., Wallgrange brickworks, Leek, and the Cheshire brickworks at Middlewood, Stockport, and Mr. Sherlock was put in charge and given the responsibility of reconstructing the two brickworks and installing up to date machinery in kilns. Some time ago Mr. Sherlock was appointed Regional Manager of the Staffordshire, Cheshire, Conisborough and Mexborough works. During the past year the strain has been beginning to tell, and Mr. Sherlock decided to retire.
He leaves with the best wishes of directors, staff and workmen, all of whom have intimated their appreciation by presentations, the parting gift of the directors being a canteen of cutlery and a dinner wagon, and from his colleagues he received silverware.
Mr. Sherlock has built a house at Cleveleys, Blackpool, and will reside there with his wife and daughter. He leaves his two sons in this district, one, Mr. William A. Sherlock, as manager of the Ashfield brickworks, Conisbrough, and the other, Mr Joseph Sherlock, junior, as manager of the Coalfield Brickworks, Mexborough.