Rusty McBoatface
Brick Harbour of Malliß – The Silent Witness of a Once-Thriving Industry
A weathered brick barge resting quietly in the water and a handful of crumbling brick walls are among the few visible reminders of what was once one of Mecklenburg's most important industrial sites. Today, the former Brick Harbour (Ziegeleihafen) in Malliß is a peaceful destination surrounded by woodland, accessible via marked forest trails. It is difficult to imagine that this tranquil place once echoed with the sounds of industry, where barges, workers and machinery kept one of the region's largest brickworks in constant motion.
An Ideal Location for Brick Production
Brickmaking had long been established in the area thanks to the extensive deposits of high-quality clay around the Wanzeberg. The decisive turning point came around 1870, when a Hamburg-based company acquired the estate and transformed the existing works into a large-scale industrial operation. A modern brickworks was constructed close to the Elde Canal, taking full advantage of the region's exceptional natural and logistical conditions.
Everything required for large-scale production was readily available: rich clay deposits, sand, locally mined lignite for firing the kilns, access to waterways, nearby railway connections and a direct route to the River Elbe. These favourable conditions soon allowed the company to develop into the largest brickworks in Mecklenburg.
A Clever Network of Canals
To maximise efficiency, the owners created an ingenious network of waterways linking the brickworks, a sawmill, the nearby brown coal mine and the Elde Canal. The Brick Harbour became the centre of this transport system, allowing raw materials to arrive by barge while finished products could be shipped directly to customers.
At its peak, the works produced well over ten million bricks each year. Most of them were transported to Hamburg, where they supplied the city's rapidly growing demand for building materials during the late nineteenth century. The waterways also proved invaluable for regional infrastructure projects, including the construction and maintenance of locks and canals throughout Mecklenburg.
The Last Brick Barge
The old barge that still rests in the harbour has become the unmistakable symbol of the site. Although the vessel's individual history is no longer fully documented, it represents the type of working craft that once carried bricks, clay, coal and timber through this busy industrial landscape. Standing beside its weathered steel hull, it is easy to picture the harbour during its busiest years, when cargo boats regularly loaded and unloaded along the quayside.
Unlike many preserved museum exhibits, the barge remains in the environment for which it was built. Surrounded by calm water and dense woodland, it creates a striking contrast between nature and industry - a scene that makes the Brick Harbour one of the most atmospheric reminders of Mecklenburg's industrial heritage.
From Industrial Centre to Historic Landmark
Brick production continued throughout the twentieth century, surviving changing ownership, political upheaval and extensive modernisation. Following German reunification, however, economic pressures and increasing competition ultimately brought an end to the works. Production ceased in 2007, the factory buildings were later demolished and the former industrial site was redeveloped.
Today, little remains of the once vast complex beyond the harbour basin, the canals and the solitary brick barge. Yet these quiet remnants tell a remarkable story. Together they preserve the memory of a place where clay, coal, waterways and craftsmanship combined to shape both the landscape and the industrial history of Malliß for well over a century.
Visited: October 29, 2017 and December 26, 2021
Location: Malliß, Germany
Status: Abandoned/Landmark
