Manufacture of firebricks appears to have taken place here since at least the late 19th century when (in 1891) the 'Totley Fire Brick Works' were first depicted to the north west of the present buildings. After a brief period around 1905 when the complex was marked 'disused' the clay pits were reopened for the newly built 'Moor Edge Silica Brick Works'. The present buildings date to the mid 20th century and the site is still active. Significant legibility of relict mineral workings. The origin of the moorland landscape is uncertain though this area is likely to be moorland by the Roman period (see Bevan 2003 for discussion of environmental evidence).