In 1927the Desford Brick Company was opened by the colliery and later a railway siding connection was made with the colliery.
Forterra was founded in the 1960’s under the name Hanson’s UK building products division and was rebranded in 2015 to Forterra.
A major investment in 2022 of 95 million pounds has transformed the Desford/Merrylees Brick (Forterra) facility in Leicestershire into both the largest and most efficient brick factory in Europe.
With a current output of 85 million bricks per year, the Desford plant’s production capacity is set to double in the next three years as a result of the investment to 180 million bricks annually – enough to build 24,000 average-sized family homes.
A vast new shed housing two massive kilns was built, more than doubling production there.
Making the plant at Merrylees the largest brickworks in Europe.
Europe’s largest brick factory officially opens 17 May 2023
Thornton 