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- Last Updated: Sunday, 24 October 2021 16:42
- Written by GRAHAM BROOKS
BRICKS FROM AROUND THE UK.
STOURBRIDGE
In the midlands an area well known for fireclay.
There was a number of makers in the area.
A brick just stamped Stourbridge
A brick marked Fishers Stourbridge.
TIMMIS & CO LTD
Another Stourbridge company. Founded by the Timmis brothers G H and J A about 1871 they mined clay from under Stourbridge and Amblecote.
RAYAX is a trade mark for firebricks with a high 55 - 60% Aluminium by incorpoating Sillimanite a high content Aluminosilicate mineral.
LONDON BRICK COMPANY. (LBC)
This brick is a minature brick. There is a debate about these small bricks some were used in fireplaces etc. Or were they made as samples for travelling sales men?
PHORPRES refers to the fact the bricks are pressed four times in their production. Originall in presses made by C. Whittaker & Co of Accrington, Lancashire.
Examples of LBC bricks known as Flettons. The numbers refer to the various works and also in cases of double numbers also to the press used.
6 not known
10 Flettons Ltd
19 Beebys.
33 Kings Dyke.
Flettons are made from Oxford clay which has an unique property in that it contains a high concentration of organic matter which results in the brick almost firing itself in the kiln and so reducing drastically the overall cost of firing and production. Another advantage is the abiltiy to crush it to a fine granular material and it possessed a uniform moisture content which made it suitable for making into bricks by using semi-dry pressing process.
The "Fletton" process was started at Fletton Lodge Estate which was purchased by James McCallum Craig and the bricks made became known as Flettons. A number of companies were involved but over time the London Brick Company dominated the Fletton trade.
The London Brick company was incorporated as the London Brick company Limited in 1900 and adopted the trade mark "PHORPRES" in 1901. The Phorpres name was dropped in 1974.
An LB brick stamped 10. this brick has a very deep frog. The brick is 2.5 inches thick and the frog is 1.5 inches deep.
VITROSS
Manufactured by the North Staffordshire Brick and Tile Co. Ltd, Chesterton, Newcastle-under-Lyme
VITROS would appear to be their trade mark for their typical staffordshire blue engineering brick.
The same type of brick with a 'F' on it.
METALLIC AND METAL BRAND
These were the trade marks of Metallic Tile Co (Rowley Bros) Ltd. at the Metallic tileries in Chesterton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. closed in 1977.
Also at Hanfell tyleries.
J.C.E
J C E stands for J C Edwards who had a brick works at Ruaban, North Wales
A lot of JCE bricks with a number and fraction on it. In this case 31/8 in a very deep frog.
this is the reverse of the top brick with 31/8
Adifferent variation on the 31/8.
RUABON BRICK & TERRA COTTA LTD
A rope topped garden edge.
Ruabon Brick & Terra Cotta Ltd or locally called Jenks Terra Cotta. Founded by the Hague family of Gardden around 1883 and managed by Mr Jenks. Taken over by Dennis in 1960s and closed 1970s.
MONK AND NEWELL. RUABON
Brick works operated from 1883 till 1919.
A bull nose brick with an oval brick mark.. The reverse side has CS2 stamped on it
DENNIS RUABON
Founded by Henry Dennis in 1878.
ROCK BRICK COMPANY
Made by the North & South Buckley Colliery Tile Co Ltd. Trade mark 'ROCK'. Works closed in 1914.
KETLEY BRICKS
A Staffordshire blue engineering brick.
Made by Ketley Bricks, Dreadnought Works, Dreadnaught Road, Pesnett, Brierly Hill.
A paviour marked KP.
(Information from the old brick marks website. )
MARK FAWCETT AND COMPANY.
Mark Fawcett and Company from near London. The Edwardian Patwnt Dow draught Preventing Chimney pot. (The pot is upside down in the picture as being used as a planter.)
DERBYSHIRE SILICA FIREBRICK CO.
