AN award-winning brick company has played a pivotal role in the creation of a new Porters’ Lodge at Jesus College, Cambridge.

York Handmade, based at Alne, near Easingwold, supplied more than 20,000 bricks in a contract worth £33,200.

David Armitage, chairman, said: "Our popular Old Clamp blend bricks have been used for the new Porters’ Lodge, complementing the unique surroundings and fitting in in with the College’s architecture and landscape.

"This commission continues our strong relationship with colleges and university buildings at Oxford and Cambridge. We have provided bricks for Christchurch College in Oxford, as well as Oxford’s Said Business School, and are currently working on a new library at Magdalene College, Cambridge."

Paul Vonberg, the architect who designed the new lodge. said: "The brand-new Porters’ Lodge adjoins a Grade I listed building and a Grade II listed wall and so needed bricks which would blend happily with those buildings.

"York Handmade were certainly good to work with and the result is splendid. The walls look absolutely fabulous."

York Handmade is currently extremely busy with a £300,000 contract to build a new library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, housing developments at Lancer Square in Central London and King’s Cross, and a significant restoration project at St Albans Cathedral.

The company was founded in 1988. It has 30 employees, a turnover of £2.5m, and a target of more than £3m this year.