THE York Handmade Brick Company, one of the leading independent brickmakers in the country, has won a major prize in the 2015 Brick Awards.

The company, based at Alne, near Easingwold, won the Best Outdoor Space category for its "magnificent achievement" in restoring the Belvedere and Queen Elizabeth Walled Garden at Dumfries House in Scotland, a pioneering restoration project masterminded by Prince Charles.

The Belvedere was also shortlisted in the craftsmanship and best refurbishment project categories, while the company was also nominated for its work on Carmelite House on London’s Victoria Embankment.

David Armitage, chairman and managing director, said: "We are absolutely thrilled. This was a very exciting and challenging project for us, superbly supervised and executed by our sales manager Mark Laksevics and specials manager Mark Todd.

"It involved creating 47,000 bricks which fitted in perfectly with the ravaged boundary wall of the walled garden as well as unique specials for the Belvedere Folly and the Education Centre at Dumfries House.

"The project was overseen by Prince Charles and we were very proud when he praised the quality of our bricks at the opening of Dumfries House. Now this wonderful award has added to our delight."

The Brick Awards’ judges described the project as "absolutely stunning, a magnificent achievement."

They added: "The five-acre walled garden was derelict and within a 12-month period the garden has been transformed into one of the most interesting walled gardens in this country.

"The external garden wall with its sloping brickwork has been repaired to a very high standard and the Belvedere sits as a crown above the garden. The centre piece of the garden is the brickwork walls and staircases associated with greenhouses giving a heart to the new garden." The project has created 80 jobs and provides access for 5,000 primary pupils in the adjoining kitchen garden.

The awards were presented at a ceremony at the Hilton Park Lane in London’s West End. Run by the Brick Development Association in conjunction with Building magazine, they were compered by television personality Nick Knowles. They are the brick industry’s Oscars.