Buckley is an Anglo-Saxon place name although the first documented evidence of its existence dates from 1294, when it was described as the pasturage of the Manor of Ewloe. There was also at this time record of both coal mining and pottery making being practised here. It was the development of these two industries from the 17th century onwards that attracted people to settle around The Common.
Buckley's advantage as an industrial centre lay in the fact that due to the heavy faulting of its rock formation coal seams were thrown to the surface and were easily accessible.
This proved advantageous until early in the 19th century when it became necessary to go to greater depths and consequently it became more expensive to extract coal.
Using the local clay, many family-run potteries developed in the area. The earthenware products they manufactured were taken on the backs of donkeys to either Chester market or exported via the river Dee, and this as early as the reign of Elizabeth I. The last pottery kiln was fired in 1946.
Cheap crockery and enamel dishes were responsible for killing off the local enterprises. The finer clays were used to make tobacco pipes.
There is ample testimony of brick manufacturing in the area from the 1640s but large scale production does not seem to have occurred until Jonathan Catherall took advantage of the New Dee Canal in around 1737.
By 1815 it is said that 14 such factories could be seen belching smoke on Buckley Mountain.
Coalmining reached its peak during the second half of the 19th century, the principal entrepreneur being George Watkinson who owned several collieries. The arrival of the Wrexham, Mold and Connah's Quay Railway in 1866 linked the town with the national network and business boomed.
Many outsiders from the English border counties and Staffordshire moved into the district at this time. However, two World Wars and a depression in the first half of the 20th century saw their demise, the last firing taking place in 1946.
Today, Buckley boasts numerous light industries and those who cannot find work locally commute to Deeside and Merseyside.
The Castle Cement works at Padeswood is the only large scale industry in a town that was born of the Industrial Revolution. Nevertheless, Buckley, with a population of 16,000 is a living and thriving community having a legion of clubs and societies. 
your comments
Tommy Tasker, Dundalk, Ireland
Stripping an old building of its bangor blues I came across the Buckley stamp on a ridge tile so I Googled and found this website.
Tue May 5 09:30:51 2009
Katie, Ellesmere Port
Can anyone tell me any history surrounding Lambs Lane in Buckley? My sister lives in the lane and has experienced some strange goings on in their house and we cannot find any history of the houses there other than they were built approx 100 years ago. Many thanks.
Mon Feb 2 08:19:26 2009
Julie Swift, Yorkshire
Am trying to trace where my mother was born - she is now deceased. She was Dorothy Edwards DOB: 16/05/1925. She always used to mention being brought up in a place called Buckley Mountain. I believe (not sure though) her mother was called Elizabeth Spencer and her father was either John or Jack Edwards. She used to mention a row of cottages. Any help appreciated.
Wed Jan 21 11:14:00 2009
Jay Irish
In 1953 I was a Yank living at Sealand and worked at Buckley for 2 and a penny an hour. Those were the good old days.
Mon Dec 1 08:02:25 2008
Dobbs, England
Hi to Gina. I was talking to my mother in law today and she said her grandfather was the Mayor of Chester called Robert Lamb.
Tue Nov 25 15:03:12 2008
Maureen Raymond, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Gina from Canada, I would be happy to send you a tile. Yes, the name is imprinted. Of course more information is needed to send it to you.
Mon Nov 24 10:33:19 2008
Andy Hughes
R.E. ANDREW MACGEEKIE. You mention Gibson was one of the best clay pits to catch perch in. You are correct. I have caught many large perch in little Gibsons and swam on many occations in big Gibsons. But unfortunately they have now both been filled in and have flats and houses built on them. Sad but that's life. I also remember the snow drifts you speak of, 10ft deep by the Elfed school.
Thu Nov 13 09:08:26 2008
Gina from Canada
Buckley Brick & Tile Works was in my family! It was started in 1865 and I am not sure which Lamb started it but by 1880 Robert Lamb & Sons owned Buckley Brick & Tile at Cow Lane Bridge in Chester. I believe it is this Robert Lamb who went on to become Mayor of Chester in 1904. Robert Lamb was cousin to my gt-grandmother Mary Lamb. I had never heard that the roof tiles were exported. I did hear that early on the company made yellow bricks which were used for the railway station waiting rooms. I am tempted to ask for one of the tiles from Maureen Raymond - perhaps a photo instead? Do they have the name on them?
Thu Nov 6 08:45:02 2008
Maureen Raymond from New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
I have recently become the owner of roof ridge tiles manufactured by the Buckley Brick and Tile Co., LTD. They had spent the last 122 years on my neighbor's roof. His house was built in 1885 as part of an Exposition to present the house of the future. We live adjacent to Audubon Park. The park was originally the Etienne de Bore plantation. de Bore figured out how to extract cane syrup from sugar cane. The whole plantation was the site of the Exposition and then became Audubon Park, named after the naturalist John James Audubon. It was fascinating to be able to learn about the Buckley area and to think of the tiles' trip from there to here so long ago.
Fri Oct 3 07:56:03 2008
Fred Knox B.E.M
Can any body in the Buckley area help me trace an old plumbing friend by the name of John Lloyd? He was a plumber at John Summers in the 1950s.
Wed Jan 9 09:53:56 2008
Kevin W, Buckley
Terry, the area you are on about were probably clay pits looking at the fault line on old maps.
Thu Dec 20 08:40:04 2007
Amie Smith, Buckley
I was wondering if anybody knew how to find out if a building had once stood on a piece of land just by Globe Way. There are currently 4 white cottages near to the main road, but I would like to know if there were once buildings a little further down the lane.
Tue Nov 6 08:42:19 2007
Andrew Macgeekie
After reading some of the articles on Buckley it started me thinking of my childhood days growing up in Buckley the first memory was of Gibsons pit opposite the Trap next to some old brickworks. The best place to catch perch. I don't live in Buckley now but have sisters who still live there. My nieces and nephews have never heard of Gibsons pit, maybe I got the name wrong? I remember the snow drifts of 1979. I was coming home from Manchester for Christmas and my mother phoned me and told me not to come - even the snow plough was at the side of the road covered with snow - nothing was moving on Buckley Mountain, except me and my Reliant Regal 325 three wheeler car. We beat the snow because the car was so light and the single wheel at the front seemed to help me up. My mother had never been so suprised to see me. The mountain was beautiful that Christmas - castor sugar snow covering everything. Houses had snow up to the first floor windows on one side due to the snow drifts.
Thu Sep 27 11:47:04 2007
Chris Connah, Buckley
I suspect they were made in the 1990s to home the great crested newt which is prevelant in the area. This work was carried out at large expense ( twice as the authority would not listen to sound advice and used the wrong clay ) so that the local authority could use the old Brick and Tile clay hole as land fill.
Mon Apr 2 07:59:02 2007
Terry Wilcock from Buckingham
Can anyone please explain if the pond like shapes to the left of Liverpool Road, just opposite (approximately) Globe Way are related to an old pottery or the mine that used to be opposite by the railway line?
These are clearly visible on Microsoft's Virtual World and I was never aware of them as a youngster when we used to play in these and other nearby fields.
Many thanks in anticipation.
Mon Jan 8 11:25:43 2007
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