Newmarket Road is an ancient Roman road that is the main eastern gateway into the City Centre.

In 1880, the site was on the outskirts of the town, however, by 1920 the town had expanded to include the site and beyond. The site was once a highly industrial area comprising of a brick and tile works, which provided many of the local building materials throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

These factories were selectively placed near to the railway line for transport of goods and materials, and were characterised by large kilns and tall chimneys, one of which remains at the Museum of Technology.