Last updated June 2026
The Hoffman Kiln on Featherston Street is one of Palmerston North’s most significant industrial heritage sites. Built in 1904 by Robert Price Edwards as part of his brick-making operations, the 14-chamber continuous kiln produced up to 9,000 bricks a day at its peak. It is listed as a Heritage New Zealand Category 1 Historic Place and is one of the few surviving examples of its type in New Zealand.
Practical Information
| Location | 615 Featherston Street East, Palmerston North |
| Built | 1904 by Robert Price Edwards |
| Type | Hoffman oblong continuous brick kiln with 14 chambers accessed through wicket openings; 34.32 metres long and 12.98 metres broad |
| Last fired | 1959 |
| Heritage status | Heritage New Zealand Category 1 Historic Place (List No. 194); protection order placed in 1984 |
| Access | Private/No Public Access |
| National significance | One of the very few remaining continuous kilns in New Zealand |
About the Hoffman Kiln
The Hoffman Kiln on Featherston Street was constructed in 1904 by Manchester-born Robert Price Edwards. Edwards had moved his brick-making business to the Featherston Street site in 1901 from earlier premises in Church Street, where he had operated since 1886. The kiln followed a rectangular design with rounded corners, based on a 1891 patent by William Sercombe of England, itself a variation of the original circular continuous kiln patented in Germany by Friedrich Hoffmann in 1858.
The kiln features 14 regularly spaced wicket openings along its sides. These allowed labourers to create temporary chambers inside the structure. Bricks were stacked in most chambers while fires burned in others; the fire progressed sequentially around the kiln over approximately six weeks, enabling continuous operation. The design was highly efficient in fuel use and produced high-quality bricks with low reject rates. The kiln body is constructed from site-fired bricks in English Bond pattern, with a corrugated iron roof.
Edwards sold the operation to Brick & Pipes Ltd in 1919. The company expanded production on the site. In 1931 the Hawke’s Bay earthquake reduced demand, and by the 1950s the continuous kiln had become uneconomic due to rising wages, depleting clay resources, and competition from other materials. Three downdraught kilns built between 1946 and 1954 met remaining needs, and the Hoffman Kiln was fired for the last time in 1959. Its 28-metre chimney was demolished in 1977.
Heritage and Restoration
The Hoffman Kiln holds national significance as one of the very few surviving continuous kilns in New Zealand. It was entered on the New Zealand Heritage List as a Category 1 Historic Place in 1983, with a protection order placed in 1984. The structure remains sound despite past vandalism. The kiln was donated to a trust in 2003, and community groups have undertaken progressive restoration and maintenance, including replacement of corrugated iron in 1987. A showroom named in honour of Jim Lundy was completed in recent years. The site is now privately owned, and public access is not available on a regular basis.
What Visitors Often Say
Heritage enthusiasts describe the Hoffman Kiln as a rare and impressive survivor of early 20th-century industrial architecture in Palmerston North. They note its technical sophistication, the scale of its original production, and its importance as one of the last remaining examples of continuous kiln technology in the country.
Practical observations focus on the kiln’s location on private property at 615 Featherston Street East. Visitors recommend checking with Manawatū Heritage or the Hoffman Kiln Trust for any scheduled open days or special access arrangements, as regular public entry is not available.
Where to Learn More
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga: Official Category 1 listing with detailed history, technical description, and significance assessment.
Manawatū Heritage: Palmerston North City Council archive with photographs and historical records of the kiln and brickworks.
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga: Story marking the kiln’s 120th anniversary with production details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Hoffman Kiln?
At 615 Featherston Street East in Palmerston North.
When was it built?
1904 by Robert Price Edwards, who had moved his brickworks to the Featherston Street site in 1901.
How does a Hoffman kiln work?
It is a continuous-firing design with 14 chambers. Bricks are stacked in some chambers while fires burn in others; the fire travels sequentially around the kiln, allowing near-continuous operation over a six-week cycle.
When did it stop production?
1959. Changes in demand, wages, clay supply, and building materials made the continuous kiln uneconomic.
Is it heritage-listed?
Yes. It is a Heritage New Zealand Category 1 Historic Place (List No. 194), protected since 1984.
Is it the only one left?
It is one of the very few surviving continuous kilns in New Zealand.
Can I visit?
The site has private/no public access. Any viewing is by special arrangement or open day only; contact Manawatū Heritage or the Hoffman Kiln Trust for current information.
What was its production capacity?
At its peak it produced up to 9,000 bricks a day.
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