In April 2005, Archdeacon TW Pritchard came to tea primarily to read the original text of my grandfather's diary for inclusion, in part, into his book,
The Making of Buckley.
On leaving he asked me if I remembered the Castle Firebrick Co Ltd (CFBC) Sentinels. Since my late father, Cllr George Lewis, was company secretary (from 1936) and a director (from 1953), I recollected they had been sold for scrap in the 1950s.
Later that day, I had doubts. I entered 'Castle Fire Brick Co Ltd Sentinels' into Google and got nothing. It then struck me I should try their place of origin - Sentinel Works, Shrewsbury. That brought up 'Sentinel Owners' Club', so I copied my message to its site.
Justin Goold, who had coincidentally just bought the waggon, replied and was anxious to gather as much background information as he could about the waggon's original commercial owners from 1937-1955. All of this can be read in the splendid article by Alan Barnes in the September 2006 edition of the transport heritage magazine, Old Glory [www.oldglory.co.uk]. My job was to collect it together.
My first source was Sir Nigel Vernon Bt, who had been a member of the CFBC Board with my father. He kindly gave me much information and, more helpfully, put me on the track of former employees, who would have further information.
In response to a letter from me to the Chester Chronicle, many of the former CFBC employees, who knew the waggon intimately, contacted me and with remarkable effect.
Ernest Scott, who provided a wealth of information, remains in the memory. After telling me that my father employed him in 1942 as a clerk at the Top Yard to book the waggons in and out, I asked what the salary was and to which he replied 'Ten shillings a week'.
The problem for Justin - and the present owners of Sentinel UJ 9497, father and son Stuart and Chris Gray from Hertfordshire - was to establish what was the correct form of the original CFBC livery, since the gold leaf for the great 'Castle' on the apron alone, an icon for the North West, was to cost £2000.
Unfortunately, in spite of much debate and help given by my respondents, it is still not correct, since the phrase 'Lane End Works' (I am grateful to Mr Hopwood for confirming this with a photograph) has crept into the address on the body and is the result of a red-herring created by one of the subsequent owners.
The waggon is now in good shape, following the amazing skill of the Goold family, as any 'Buckleyite', who remembers it working, could wish. Like Topsy, it all just 'growed'!
My father's copy of the CFBC Refractories' Brochure details the products which the Sentinels would have customarily carried to the docks at Liverpool for dispatch to the ends of the earth.
Justin provided me with a photograph of the waggon in all stages of restoration. It has been a fascinating odyssey. Then, on Saturday August 26 2006, she came back home to Buckley.
The event was organised by Paul Davies, Carol Shone and other members of the local history group, the Buckley Society.
A crowd of about 150 made up of former firemen, the children and relations of the former drivers and firemen, the children of former managers and clerks and secretaries and many others - stood in the Buckley Precinct Car Park to witness her civic welcome by the Mayor of Buckley.
The evocative surnames - Cropper, Johnson, Hughes, Fox, Jones, Murphy, Hayes, Alletson, Whitley, Kelsall, Villar, Roberts, Peers, Hume, Groves, Gutteridge - could all be heard in the conversation.
When we heard her whistle and saw her suddenly appear on Brunswick Road it was a heart-stopping moment.
Because of its unique demographic mix - those who came long ago from the Potteries, South Wales and Cornwall, to name but a few locations, to work in the clay industry - Buckley is like nowhere else.
The icon returned and the 'family' came out to welcome her back. At least three of that family were in their 90s.
As the waggon puffed off past Oak House (Villar), up the Pinfold Lane, after visiting the former CFBC office and Ewloe Wood (Alletson), and having been escorted there by a cavalcade of classic cars of her own vintage (kindly organised by Mr Harris), she looked so slender and so graceful - truly the Darcey Bussell of the steam world and, mysteriously, the soul of old Buckley had returned to her for a few hours. Above all else it is the sound of her that stirs the emotions. 
your comments
Will Troughton, Aberystwyth
In case anyone is interested there is a black and white photo from ca.1946 of Sentinel steam lorry reg BEV 467 in the National Collection of Welsh Photographs in the National Library of Wales, ref 004516008/191. This lorry also belonged to the Castle Fire Brick co Ltd.
Tue Sep 23 12:24:34 2008
Stuart Gray
Still urgently sought, ANY original photographs of Castle Firebrick Sentinel Waggons working, especially any of our Sentinel UJ 9497. We have not been able to locate one at all.
Mon Sep 22 08:40:51 2008
Stuart Gray from Hitchin
Something was missing from our Calender this year, that was steaming UJ9497 north up the A5 to Onslow Park Rally this year and meeting some of our new friends from Buckley. We took our 'Castle Waggon' to The Great Dorset Steam Fair by invitation. We feel privileged to own this one time icon from Buckley and we will definitely be back to Buckley soon. The Sentinel remains in good order, despite spending most of its time spotless, at the Great Dorset Steam Fair, where for a week we drove round a very dusty site and decided not to clean the Sentinel at all, which meant by the end of the week, she looked as if in working clothes, I hasten to add, with all copper pipework still highly polished. Just a nice covering of dust all over. We will be back in Buckley and hopefully next year. Look forward to bringing UJ9497 home again.
Mon Sep 8 09:05:30 2008
Bryony Reynolds, Buckley
Alan Kelsall's late father of Hillside Crescent, Nant Mawr Rd Buckley, also drove the Sentinel for Castle brick (UJ or BV?) I cannot remember, this was in the late 1940s. I remember being terrified of it as a little girl and always tried to hide from it.
Tue May 13 08:44:33 2008
V. Jenkins, Drury, Buckley
Due to my family connections with the C.F.B. (my father F. Jenkins was the original driver of UJ9497) I was given the great pivilege at Onslow Park of acting as fireman during its display in the showring and later on as driver around the roads of Shrewsbury. I would like to thank the owner Mr Stuart Gray for allowing me to experience my father's working day driving this steam wagon. The performance of this vehicle is superb and a credit to the restoration team to put back on the road what must be the Rolls Royce of steam wagons.
Thu Feb 14 16:09:03 2008
Paul Davies, Buckley Society
I received an email from Stuart Gray today confirming that the Castle Firebrick Co. Ltd Sentinel waggon will be attending Salop Steam Fair this next weekend August the 26th and 27th of August. Unfortunately though they will not be able to travel to Buckley on Saturday the 25th as hoped.
Wed Aug 22 11:51:03 2007
Paul Davies. The Buckley Society
The Gray family took the waggon on the London to Brighton Run this year and came away with three cups, Best Steamer on the Run, Best Truck overall on the Run and 3rd place in the Concourse de Elegance. They will hopefully be attending Onslow Park, Shrewsbury for this year's County of Salop Steam Engine Society Fair on the 26th and 27th of August 2007 and may consider another run to Buckley on the Saturday of that weekend if conditions permit.
Wed Jul 4 15:43:12 2007
WJC from Sedgley
Speaking as an ex sentinel apprentice who worked on these waggons, it warms my heart at the sight of every restored waggon. Congratulations.
Mon Mar 26 09:57:02 2007
V.Jenkins, Drury, Buckley.
My father F.Jenkins of Northop Hall drove this Sentinal UJ9497 all through its working life at the Castle Fire Brick. I spent many a happy hour with my dad and his fireman, 2nd mate Walter, delivering to all parts of N. Wales. Lots of old stories including being shot at by the Luftwaffe.
Webteam replies: Hi V, we'd love to hear some of stories, especially about being shot at!
Fri Jan 12 08:11:44 2007
Dennis Gears, Las Vegas USA
I served my apprenticeship at Castle Brickworks from 66 to 73, your dad George Lewis used to come to the electricians shop at the Elm works for bags of coke and I being the toe-rag had to load them into the boot of his dark blue Vanden Plas. My step-dad George Jones told me he used to drive the sentinals down to Summers steelworks. Nice article, well done, brought back many happy thoughts.
Tue Jan 2 10:46:00 2007
Steve Harstrom, reading this from Colorado, USA
Nice article. Beautifully restored old truck. I believe, by the way, the photo above was made by a Ms. Carol Shone, if I am not mistaken. No credit was given, but I recognize it. Yes, she is well–known over here. Anyhow, congratulations on such a beauty. Those who restored the machine are due much compliment.
Fri Sep 8 07:48:29 2006
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