"Old Bricks - history at your feet"

Mystery makers

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Any information on these bricks would be appreciated.

007

Photo by Martyn Fretwell, possibly a refractory brick batch number?

1 48 99

Found in Derbyshire by Martyn Fretwell

12ft 6

A 12ft 6ins radius brick found in Scotland by Hugh Gregory.

163N

This one was found by Carla van Beveren in Pocklington.

1850

Michael Shaw found this very old brick near Westbury, Shropshire. He thinks it was made at a nearby coal mine

1864

Simon Fogg found this near Exmouth. He thinks that These dated bricks were made in Exmouth, either by Lime Kiln Brickworks, Douglas Avenue, Exmouth, or Withycombe Brickworks. He has found bricks with dates of 1861, '62, '64 and '68. Photo and information by Simon Fogg.

Photo by Neil Bannell.

1870

2 A

Photo by Dennis Canning.

26 B

Found at a reclamation yard by Ray Martin

276 C

Found at a house in Towcester by Nigel Furniss

258A

Spotted by Nigel Furniss in Banbury

3 INS

Found near Alfreton, Derbyshire by Frank Lawson

35

Found on Skipsea beach by Carla van Beveren.

3355

Photo by Martyn Fretwell

4206

Photo by Martyn Fretwell.

5FT 9IN

Found at Normanton, Yorkshire by Lewis Jodrell.

5 R

Found on Crosby beach. Photo by Andrew Morley,

55

55 or could be S S? Seen in Bishopstoke, Eastleigh, Hampshire by Ian Suddaby.

72

Found at Higham near Barnsley. Photo by Darren Wall.

89

This long glazed brick found in Birmingham by Angel Rose. 89 will most likely be a catalogue number for this particular design.

90

Found at Hickleton in South Yorkshire. Photo by Dave Cunningham.

+

Found in Arlesey, Bedfordshire. Photo by Malcolm Holt

&

Photo by Chris Tilney. Found in the southwest of County Durham.

Double arrow symbols

Found at Allerthorpe, near Pocklington. Photo by Carla van Beveren

A

Found at Stobswood brickworks site in Northumberland by Anne Jeffcoat.

A

Found in Kent. Photo by Ken Evans.

A

Found near Bridgend by Richard Paterson.

Ā

Ā probably made in Suffolk. Photo by Andy Warnes.

A B C

Found at Spondon Reclamation yard by Martyn Fretwell.

A B & Co

Found on a reclamation site near Barnsley. Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

A B & Sons

Found in the Darwen area of Lancashire. Photo by Graham Brooks.

A & F P

Found, along with a fragment of another, in undergrowth near Pontnewydd Golf Club. Both had the spindly "A & FP" stamp, and both were quite crudely made. I did wonder if they were made by an amateur in a makeshift kiln. photo and info by Lawrence Skuse.

A & F W B

Found in Hertfordshire. Photo by Chris Page.

A G K

Found in Widnes. Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

A H

Found in South Staffs. Photo by Angel Rose,

Found in South Staffs. Photo by Phil Burgoyne.

It is possible that this paver is a product of the brickworks at Ansley Hall Colliery in Warwickshire.

A H

Found by the Mersey in Stockport. Photo by Lyn Bostock.

B

Found in Leeds, Photo by David Fox.

B

Examples have been found in Elland and Dewsbury. Photo by Chris Shaw.

B

Found on Hameldon Hill, Burnley by Brian Hartley.

B & C

Found in a Bacup resident's collection. Photo by Jason Stott.

B & C

Found at Horsforth Quarry near Leeds by Mike Green.

B C C

Photo by David Kitching.

Derek Barker is seeking information on this one. This brick is commonly found in Bradford, West Yorks. Buildings containing it suggest production in the first few decades of the 20th century. Essentially then we are looking for a brick-maker active in the period 1910-1940 able to supply bricks in large numbers for a prestigious city build (like a hospital or cinema) but local enough to be a source for small single house developments. Collieries commonly possessed their own brick-works. Birkenshaw Colliery Co was owned by various members of the Gill family from 1911 until in 1947, but at the moment I have no evidence whatever that they ever owned a brickworks. Another possible theory is that the initials stood for Bradford City Ceramics or Clay; the great difficulty with this theory is that neither name is attested in any of the trade directories that cover its likely period of operation. A Bradford Corporation Brickworks is noted at Rook Lane near Bowling. Hypothetically 'Bowling Clay Company' or 'Bradford Corporation Clay' are possibilities but, I must stress, the names are also entirely unattested in any trade directory. Photo by Frank Lawson.

B C L

Found at Chester-le-Street in County Durham. Photo by Steven Tait.

B C P

Thanks to Darren Haywood for the photo.

Found near Rowell Bridge, Sheffield by Clare Oliffe.

B. H.

Thanks to Darren Haywood for the photo.

B. H.

Found at Haugh Fold Newhey, Rochdale. Possibly from one of the many businesses that worked the Besom Hill brickworks on Ripponden Road, Oldham at one time or another. Photo by Jason Stott.

B I S

Found near Chesterfield. Photo by Martyn Fretwell.

B & H

Photo by Chris Shaw who found this brick at Lepton in West Yorkshire. Examples have also been found to the west of Huddersfield.

B O & H

Photo by Martyn Fretwell courtesy of the Bill Richardson Collection at Southwick Hall.

B R E

Found at Pallion, Sunderland. Photo by Steven Pinder.

B S

A well worn brick found on the Thames bank at Wapping by Frank Lawson. Thurston Riehl adds this information: I at once recognized your mystery brick BS as a type which was brought to Guyana as ballast in sailing ships between 160 and 260 years ago. They are very yellow, very porous, and relatively soft--especially when they are worn or have not been fired completely. They often have three letters (Sometimes only 2 and sometimes a symbol) stamped in the indentation on one side. I am told they are Dutch, which is certainly a possibility, as all or part of present day Guyana changed hands several times between the Dutch, the English. and the French. However, I can not be certain as to the origin of these bricks. I have recycled over a hundred thousand of these bricks in a large building project at my farm.

B & S W B W

Found during an archaeological excavation at Ashburys in Manchester. Photo by David Kitching, who adds: the other bricks found in the same context appear to have been made in the period 1875-1885.

Bee/Wasp? image

Photo by Frank Lawson courtesy of the Bill Richardson Collection at Southwick Hall.

Butterfly image

Possibly the Butterfly works, Old Hill. Photographed at Valley Reclamation Yard, Chesterfield by Martyn Fretwell.

BxH

Found in the Tames by Gryff Rees whilst mudlarking.

C

Photo by Mark Cranston.

C

Found in the floor of an old summerhouse at Bishop's Stortford. Photo by Colin Mouser.

C

Photo by Jason Sutcliffe.

C & B

Found in Batley. Photo by David McNicholas.

C B C L

Photographed in a path at the Museum of Welsh Life, St Fagans, Cardiff by Richard Paterson

C. B W

The may have a connection with the Adderley Park Brick Company Ltd, Birmingham, as it was found in a wall with similar bricks marked for that company. Photo by Andy Tunstall.

C D

Found in County Durham. Photo by Chris Tilney.

C I

Found by Philip Davies in the river Cegidog just east of Ffrwd, near Wrexham.

C J R

Seen with Essex & Suffolk bricks. Photo by Martyn Fretwell.

C L

Found at Hipperholme by Jason Stott.

C & L

Found in a stream at Thornton Thewles near Stockton-on-Tees. Photo by Ken Cunningham.

Found in SE County Durham. Photo by Chris Tiley.

C L W

Found embedded into a garden path in the village of Overseal in South Derbyshire.
Possibly produced at Wemyss Brick Co. Works, Methill, Fife. Photo by Iain Hambling.

C R P M

Photographed at Cawarden Rec. Yard by Martyn Fretwell.

C & S E

Found in Hitchin. Photo by Duncan McColl.

C T C

Photographed in Corris, Powys.

B Clay

B Clay 220-10-60. A fishing boat from Cedeira in Spain hauled up this brick from 500 metres down. Andres Bello would be grateful for any information.

Crown

Found in a wall built in 1904 in Portsmouth. Photo by Mark Messenger.

D M L

Found in SW Durham. Photo by Elizabeth Robinson.

E

Found in Canterbury, I think this is probably dated around the middle of the 19th century. Photo by Michael Diamond.

E

Photo by Martin Fretwell.

E A S

Found in Thirsk by Don Boldison.

E B P

Henry Holt found this brick at Broadway St, Park Bridge, Oldham. His suggestion was Oldham brickmaker Edward Brooks who was active 1869 - 1875 but that does not explain the works location beginning with the letter P. Another example was found in Littleborough. Photo by David Kitching.

E B & R

Found in a building at Harrogate dating from 1864/65. Photo by Tony Keeble.

E B W

Photo by courtesy of the Richard Symonds collection.

Photographed at Corris by Martyn Fretwell.

E H & Co

Found in County Durham by Steven Tait.

Another County Durham find, this one photographed by Chris Tilney.

E O

Photographed at the Museum of East Anglian Life by Martyn Fretwell.

E - R

Photo by Nigel Furniss

Elizabeth II - Silver Jubilee

Found by Alan Murray-Rust in Beeston. Alan thinks it's been inserted into the paving relatively recently.

E M

From the Henry Holt collection and originally found on a demolition site in Blackburn. Photo by David Kitching.

E S R

Found in Norfolk. Photo by Martyn Fretwell.

E W E

Found in the Doncaster area. Photo by Stuart Aiken

F

This firebrick was found in Huddersfield by Martin Fretwell.

F C

Found in a Liverpool collection.

F Co.

Found by Graeme Pilkington in Delamere forest, Cheshire.

Photo by David McNicholas.

This is a brick from the Henry Holt collection. Photo by David Kitching.

F Co Ld

Found in Harrogate. Photo by Frank Lawson.

F D or L D?

Found at the site of the old Burdale Railway Station near Thixendale, East Yorkshire by Carla van Beveren.

F F

Found near Beamish. Photo by Chris Tilney.

F F I B

Found in the Middlesbrough area. Photo by Chris Tilney.

F g A

This firebrick was found in Hawkshaw, Bury. Photo by Phil Burgoyne.

F W B

I think this is a product from a North Wales manufacturer. Photographed at Coalport China Museum by Steve Dewhirst.

Photographed at Coalport China Museum by Michael Shaw.

For 5ft Diameter Well

Photo by Martyn Fretwell courtesy of the Bill Richardson Collection at Southwick Hall.

G

Photo by David Kitching.

G

Found by Frank Lawson in the ruins of an old woollen mill at Netherthong in W.Yorks.

G B

Found at Whitefield between Manchester and Bury. Photo by Jason Stott.

G B Coy

Found at the site of the old Walbottle Brickworks, Newcastle. Photo by Mark Cranston.

Photo by Chris Tilney.

Photo by Chris Graham.

G B L

Fond in a garden in Derby by Mike Shaw.

G B. P

Almost certainly made in the Pontefract area. I have been unable to identify any firebrick manufacturer in that area with the initials G B. Photo by Russell Firth.

G C & S

David Kitching writes: Seen in a yard at Newent, Gloucestershire, I have not been able to identify the manufacturer, The obverse of the brick was stamped CLAYTON & Co PATENT which refers to the manufacturer of the brickmaking machine.

G F

Photo by Vladimir Smirnov.

G H & Co.

Found in path adjoining former Royston-Dewsbury Midland Railway line at Hall Green, Wakefield by Philip Jervis. Maker not known.

G H C

Photographed in a Pye Bridge reclamation yard by Martyn Fretwell.

G J S

Found by Angel Rose at Oldfield reclamation yard.

G R or R G

Found in a Liverpool collection.

G W L

Photo by courtesy of the Richard Symonds collection.

Granby Select

Found underneath an old farm house in Michigan by Jason Lehman. Could be a British brick?

H

Found in Leeds. Photo by Isabel Robinson.

Hand Made

Photographed at Cawarden Reclamation by Martyn Fretwell.

H B

Photo by Frank Lawson.

H B

Photo by David Fox.

Photo by Martin Fretwell.

H B W

Found in the Solent area. Photo by Chris Graham.

H C D

Found in Retford by Ian Armstrong.

H M

A bit of a rarity for this website. A concrete brick found outside Shrewsbury Abbey by Mike Shaw.

H & N R

Photo by Lawrence Skuse, who writes: Currently, a one mile stretch of the Mon-Brec Canal is being restored to working condition with a lot of excavation undertaken. This was amongst a pile of chiefly white, anonymous bricks although there were fragments of an Abersychan and Cwmbran Star bricks also. Whether this brick has been unearthed there, or has been bought in as a reclaimed brick, I don't know. I have no idea as to the manufacturer.

H O & Co

Found at Dinorwic slate quarry. Photo by Iain Taylor.

H R & C

Found at Croft near Darlington. Photo by Liz Robinson.

H S & E

Found in County Durham. Photo by Steven Tait.

Photo by Chris Tilney.

H S L S

Found around the Hayling Island / Langstone Harbour shoreline in Hampshire by Tony Russell.

H & T H

Found in central Manchester. Photo by David Kitching.

H (W) L

Found in a towpath at Tipton by Phil Shaw

H & W C

Photo by Andy Chaplin.

Hick

Photo by Martyn Fretwell from the David Penney Collection.

Horseshoe symbol

Found in the Thames at Catford by Heather Stevens.

I C L

Possibly made in Buckinghamshire. Photo by Martyn Fretwell.

I H E C

Found in Maryport by Alan Garner.

I N

Found in Cowes, Isle of Wight by Dean Mercer.

I Q B C

On display in Milton Keynes museum, photo by Malcolm Holt.

IV

Found in Barrow in Furness by Richard Comish. Possibly made by the Carron Company, Iron Works and Refractory brickworks, Falkirk, Stirlingshire.

I W

Found near Exmouth by Simon Fogg.

Found on Dartmoor by Ian Williams.

The location of these finds suggests a Devon based manufacturer.

J & A

Found near the Victorian spa town of Llandrindod Wells by Richard Paterson.

J B

Thought to be from the Barnsley area. Photo by Martyn Fretwell.

J B W

Found in the Bury area. Photo by Colin Driver.

J E

Found at Cawarden Reclamation by Martyn Fretwell.

Photo by Angel Rose.

J F

Found in Dewsbury. photo by Chris Shaw. It is possible that this is Jas Fearnley, West Hardwick, Featherstone. Listed in Kellys West Riding Directory,1861 & 1871 but not in 1877.

J F

Found at Eastwood Notts by Cheryl Henshaw.

J G

Found Sheffield, South Yorks. Photo & info by Frank Lawson. Origin not certain: -

Possibly - John Gregory, Cross Pool, Glossop Road, Sheffield. White's Sheffield Directory 1862

Or - John Goulder, Anson street, Sheffield. White's Sheffield & Rotherham Directory 1856

Or - John Gibson, Chapeltown, Sheffield White's Directory Sheffield & Rotherham Directory 1879

J G

Found on a demolition site in Wakefield by Bobby Clegg.

J H G

Found in the River Wear at Bishop Auckland by Paul Bishop.

J H R

Found in a reclamation yard at Four Oaks. Photo by Angel Rose.

J. & J. C. G.

Seen in Suffolk. Photo by Martyn Fretwell.

J K

Found in Bradford. Photo by David McNicholas.

J L

Found near Bridgend by Richard Paterson.

J L B

Found in Summerseat by Jason Stott. I am unconvinced that this is a British brick but I suppose that it could be a fairly modern product from a UK manufacturer?

J N P

Spotted just outside the village of Meltonby, East Yorkshire by Carla van Beveren.

J P

Found at the Cambrian Railway Society's Weston Wharf site Oswestry by Mike Shaw.

J P D & C

Found in Rochdale during demolition on Dodgson Street.

J S & Son

I have seen several examples of the mark, all from Liverpool, and I am convinced that it is a maker from that area. Photos by David Kitching.

J T S (with horseshoe)

Found in Bolton by Henry Lisowski.

J U I

Seen with Essex & Suffolk bricks. Photo by Martyn Fretwell.

J W

Found close to Durham City by Steven Tait.

K

Found between Otley and Menston in West Yorkshire. From Sue Wrights collection

K 1

Photo by Vladimir Smirnov.

Key symbol brick

Found in Coxley Beck, Horbury Bridge Near Wakefield. Photo by Phil Jervis.

Another key symbol brick

Found on the banks of the Thames. Possibly a foreign brick which arrived as ships ballast. Photo sent by Bursledon Brickworks.

K C

Found near Ferryhill in Durham. I am fairly confident that this is a colliery produced brick, but less ceratin as to which colliery was responsible. Photos by Steven Tait.

KMDT

Found at the site of a Lancashire magnesium works by Richard Matthews.

L

Found in Leeds. Photo by Kevin Moyles.

L

Found in Leeds. Photo by David Fox.

L

Found underneath the 1920s floor of All Saints church in Wokingham, Berks. Photos by John Harrison.

L A

Found at Snydale near Pontefract. Photo by David Kitching.

L C A

Found whilst diving off Stavanger, Norway by Arild Skjaeveland Vivas. The back is stamped Clayton & Co. so it is almost certainly a British made brick. Possibly it arrived in Norway as ships ballast?