THE award-winning York Handmade Brick Company has completed a £225,000 contract for one of London’s leading independent schools.

The company, based at Alne, near Easingwold, supplied 150,000 bricks for Highgate Junior School in north London and the project has now been shortlisted for a major prize in the national Brick Awards.

David Armitage, chairman of York Handmade, said: “This was an absolutely fascinating commission, not least because the new junior school building had to reflect its historic architectural context, as well as being a first-class environment for learning.”

The 4,320sq m building is for 350 pupils aged seven to 11 years. Features include teaching spaces and a main school hall to replace an old library and teaching block, which were demolished as part of the project.

“It also included extensive refurbishment and re-roofing works to Highgate Junior School’s Ingleholme Building, one of only a few remaining 19th century ‘villa’ houses in Highgate,” said Mr Armitage.

“While we will never forget our Yorkshire roots, and we continue to work extensively in the county, this commission underlines our growing presence in the capital. Recent London projects include the Shard, London Bridge Place, Highbury Stadium and Carmelite House on the Victoria Embankment.”

Bob Hayes of architects Architype, which designed the new junior school, said: “The brickwork and stone were selected as the main cladding materials. The York Handmade bricks give a wonderful texture.”