During the final stages of Cown Lynn’s closure in 1989 many documents and materials from the factory were incinerated in the kilns before the factory was demolished. Thanks to the foresight of Crown Lynn employee Peter Grant a box of photographs including this one, were saved before going up in flames.
The original Gardner Bros & Parker downdraught kiln is located right outside Te Toi Uku.
Built in 1926 and last fired in 1957, this kiln is the last remaining structure from New Lynn’s brick-making era.