THE MAN who first opened a brick-works at Cattybrook in Almondsbury has been recognised on what would have been his 200th birthday.

Charles Richardson, a trusted apprentice of I.K. Brunel, was entrusted to supervise numerous railway projects around the Gloucester and Bristol area.

The Retired Professional Engineers’ Club of Bristol teamed up with the Institution of Civil Engineers’ Bristol Club to place a blue plaque on the Engineer's Walk near At-Bristol.

The Victorian civil engineer came up with the scheme to build a railway tunnel under the river Severn to directly link Bristol and South Wales but before it was completed he had been replaced as chief engineer by Sir John Hawkshaw.

Richardson also discovered the excellent source of brick clay at Cattybrook where he opened a brick-works which has since produced millions of bricks used across the area.

Many of Richardson's projects still exist today, including the length of Bristol Harbour Railway laid alongside "M-Shed".

Richardson also had a life-long passion for cricket which famously angered Brunel. It led to his inventions of a cricket ball bowling machine and the first cricket bat with a cane-spliced handle.

Richardson died in 1896 and is buried at St Mary's church, Almondsbury.