The York Handmade Brick Company, which claims to be the leading independent brickmaker in the north of England, has provided 40,000 specially made bricks and arches for a pair of award-winning houses in the heart of York.

York Handmade, based at Forest Lane, Alne, near Easingwold, manufactured bespoke old clamp blend bricks for 33 and 34 St Mary’s to fit in with the historic surroundings.

The contract was worth £30,000 and the bricks helped the elegant town houses to win the New Residential category of the York Design Awards 2011. The houses are owned by Mr and Mrs Edward Waterson and Mr and Mrs Daniel Rose.

David Armitage, the chairman of York Handmade, said: “This was a hugely challenging and satisfying project. St Mary’s, which runs from Bootham down to the River Ouse, is steeped in history and is one of York’s most fascinating streets.

“The original house on the site had been demolished, so we were starting from scratch. The aim was to ensure the two new houses fitted in seamlessly with the neighbouring houses and we believe we have achieved that. They certainly don’t look out of place.”

This project has come hard on the heels of the company’s award-winning work on the new building for York St John on the corner of Gillygate and Lord Mayor’s Walk, in the shadow of the Bar Walls.