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20 Well

Found in Hasland, near Chesterfield by Simon Patterson.  Tim Lawton writes: I believe the brick was made at the Twentywell Brickworks located in Bradway, Sheffield, adjacent to the railway cutting off Twentywell Lane.  From what I can glean from the old ordnance survey maps, the works was in operation from at least 1875 through to the 1950s (maybe later). Interestingly the works seemed to manufacture stoneware also. 

photo courtesy of Graham Hague (Sheffield) collection

A (Arscott Colliery)

Michael Shaw supplied this photo of a brick found on the site of Arscott Colliery brickworks.  The colliery was near Minsterley in Shropshire.

Accrington Nori

A notoriously hard brick made by one of the biggest brick makers in North West England.  One story concerns the name.  Allegedly on the first firing of these bricks, part of the name was placed the wrong way around and what should have read IRON came out as NORI - believe it if you will!  Accrington Nori bricks are also said to have been used for the foundations of Blackpool Tower and the Empire State Building.

This one was found in the Longport area of Stoke on Trent by Ken Perkins.

photos by Simon Patterson.

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Accrington Redac

photo by Simon Patterson, taken in Retford station.

Airedale, Shipley

This Shipley is in West Yorkshire near to Bradford.  The area is known for seams of coal, brick making shale and fireclay.  The brick itself was found at nearby Frizinghall Railway Station. The most likely brick maker was George Stelling Hogg who between 1865 & 1875 traded as the Airedale Brick and Tube Co.  The address of the works is simply stated to have been 'Keighley Road, Shipley' but I have never seen a map showing its exact location.  The company employed 51 men and 17 boys; it owned a coal mine and made a combination of bricks, sanitary tubes, glazed closet pans and chimneys.  There were 3 or 4 other brick works in the immediate area but no others used 'Airedale' in their company names.  Thanks to Derek Barker for the photo and information.

Glazed brick manufacturers established by Henry Victor Allen when he took over the Halifax Glazed Brickworks in the Walterclough Valley.  He converted the works to manufacture refractory bricks. Their Sefrac refractory bricks were world famous.

Photos by Darrell Prest.  

Simon Patterson sent this photo of the rear of an Allen brick.  

Allied

Derek Barker writes:  I can't identify the origin of this brick with certainty.  There was a company called Allied Brick & Tile of Beeston, Leeds.  There was also a producer of this name in Harrogate in the 1930s, the Allied Brick & Tile Works Ltd, Stonefall, Harrogate.

Altofts

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Ansley-Hall

Ansley Hall was the name of a colliery near Atherstone in Warwickshire.  The brick was found during demolition of part of Llandudno station.  As Atherstone was on the main line of the London & North Western Railway, who also extended Llandudno station, this is the likely reason why it was found so far from home.

Simon Patterson writes: This is made from reconstituted stone and was made by the Steetley Company at their Anston quarry in South Yorkshire.  They are still being made by Forticrete but it has not had the frog with the name on it for many years.

Apedale

The Apedale brickyard and the Apedale iron works were built close together. In the Apedale valley there were good stocks of coal, iron and marl.  This brick was found in the woods where the brickyard boundary  wall can still be seen in the woods.  Photo and info by Ken Perkins.

Ken's bricks can be seen on display at the Apedale heritage centre, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire in the brick and tile exhibition.  There are around 100 on display.

Arlesey Brick Co.

Arlesey in Bedfordshire once had six brickworks, none of which remain today.  photo kindly supplied by Richard Pike.

Armitage, Leeds

Probably made at Armitage Brickworks, Woodkirk, Leeds.  Photos by Simon Patterson

A delightful Armitage brick from 1954, photo by Steve Kind

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

A Coronation commemorative brick. Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Armitage (Sheffield)

The brick works of John Armitage & Son were situated in Stocksbridge and Deepcar, northern suburbs of Sheffield.

photos courtesy of Graham Hague (Sheffield) collection.   This is the back of a decorative Armitage brick.

Ashdown

A new brick made by Ibstock at Bexhill, E. Sussex, found at Pevensey Bay by Simon Patterson.

Ashington Coal Company Limited

A hundred years ago, Ashington in Northumberland was a one industry town.  The primary industry was coal mining and the main employer was the Ashington Coal Company.  If you worked for them, then you probably lived in a company house built and owned by the ACCL with bricks made in the ACCL brickworks.

ACCL became part of the National Coal board who applied their name to the bricks after 1948.  Thanks to Simon Patterson for the photo

Ashworth Sparth

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.  Sparth is a district of Rochdale.

Aston Magna

Simon Patterson photographed this one at Avoncroft Museum

Atlas

Found in a garden in Leeds, photo by Steve Kind

Attercliffe

photo courtesy of Graham Hague (Sheffield) collection

B. B.

Found in Coalbrookedale, the Staffordshire Knot is stamped between the letters.

B.B.C. Bulwell

Photo by Alan Murray-Rust, who writes:  This is from the Bulwell Brick Company, in Nottingham, about which I have been able to find nothing except that it had ceased operation by the 1940s.

B.B.&T.Co Lim

Bradford Brick & Tile Co Limited: Great Horton, Wapping Road, Leeds Road, and Whetley Lane, Manningham.

Found by Simon Patterson in West Yorks.  Made by the Bradford Brick & Tile Company Limited.  The company was founded by a group of Halifax businessmen in the 1870s. Its brick works were initially at Wapping Road, Whetley Lane, and Great Horton (Beldon Road). BB&T Co later opened operations in Seymour Street, Leeds Road, which became its HQ. The other works were presumably closed at around that time. Waste bricks from this company are extremely common in the Bradford area.   Thanks to Derek Barker for the info.

B. C.

Found in Suffolk by Simon Patterson

B & B, Waingroves

Believed to have been made by Brown and Bayliss in Waingroves, near Ripley, Derbyshire.  Found by Keith.

B.G & S, Worksop

Thanks to Simon Patterson for the photo

Babbington

Photo by Simon Patterson

Backworth

These are all products of the Hotspur brickworks in Backworth near Newcastle.  The works was opened near Backworth Colliery in 1877 by H Foster & Co. initially making firebricks.  Housebricks were made during the 1930's but this ceased in 1945 when firebricks were again concentrated on.  In 1955 General Refractories Ltd took over the works and continued to produce bricks until 1967 when the works was finally closed.  Thanks to Maurice Atherton for the photos and history of the works.

Bailey

Photo supplied by A.K.A. Demik.

Balby

Balby is a district of Doncaster, South Yorkshire.  This brick has an unusual style of
name stamping, which may have been applied by hand.

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Baldwin

Made at the H.J.Baldwin Brickworks in Bunny, Nottinghamshire, thanks to Simon Patterson for the photo and Geoff Hollis for the information.

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Barlboro

Barlborough is a village near Chesterfield in Derbyshire, photo by Simon Patterson.

Barnsley Metallic

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Barrass

Barrow Furness

Made in Barrow in Furness and found in Moffat, Dumfrieshire by Peter Robinson.

Battersea

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Beardsley Son

Photo supplied by A.K.A. Demik.

Belvoir

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Bennett

Bennetts seem to have had two brickworks sites, one on Uttoxeter Road in Derby and one at Spondon,  photos by Ian Castledine.  The backs of Bennett bricks are shown below:

Thanks to Ian C for the photo.

Photo supplied by A.K.A. Demik.

Bennett, Holmes & Kay

Photo supplied by A.K.A. Demik.

Bentinck

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Berry Hill

Berry Hill Brickworks, Kingsley, Stoke-on-Trent, photo by Simon Patterson.

Bingley Sanitary Tube & Lime Co.

The kiln site is at Eldwick, 2 km north of Bingley, West Yorkshire on Walsh Lane.  The old works chimney is still visible for miles.  All brick-making activity was confined to a period of about 50 years.  In 1870 coal and lime merchant William Barron bought site land to establish a private brick making business.  In 1889 the public company of Bingley Sanitary Tube and Lime Co. Ltd. was formed at the same premises.  Bricks marked [BST&L Co] are common in the Bingley area and have been found in the Dales.  In 1892 £442 was spent on machinery and plant and the company made a gross profit of £1766.  The 1893 O.S. map shows the brickworks complex as the B.S.T & Lime Works.  The 1921 O.S. map shows the works together with a tramway and a 1922 Trade Directory lists B.S.T & L Co for the last time.  Thanks to Derek Barker for the photo and information.

Birchenwood

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Birkbys, Wyke

Birkby, Henry & Sons Ltd: Storr Hill Brickworks, Wyke

Wyke is a district of Bradford, photo by Simon Patterson.  The works was opened in 1869 and closed in 1982.  There are photos of the works in operation here

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Henry Birkby, was born in Worthinghead, Wyke around 1830. He was the foreman of Squire Holdsworth, contractor of Wyke, for 7 years until 1863. In 1869-70 he opened the Storr Hill, Wyke brickworks for which he is famous. He is said to have lost a hand in a brick-making machine accident. He took an active part in public life and was returned as councillor for Wyke in 1899. When he retired from business his sons continued brick making. Birkby's was the last traditional working brick-works in Bradford. The company used several brick-marks, all of which are variations on the company name and location.  Thanks to Derek Barker for the information.

Black Hill Brick, Entwistle, near Bolton

Michael Sorfleet rescued this one from the Bury Corporation Transport Department bus depot when it was being demolished.

Blackwell

Bolton on Dearne

Photos by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Boot, Sutton

Made at Sutton in Ashfield, photo by Simon Patterson

J & C Boyle

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.  Boyles operated a works at Burmantofts, Leeds, later taken over by Leeds Fireclay.  Found at Tankersley near Barnsley.

Bovey

Made in Bovey Tracey, near Newton Abbot in Devon

Bradford Corporation

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

This company was based at the Victoria Works, Rook Lane, off Tong Street, Bradford. The Rook Lane works seemed to have developed as a result of the brick making efforts of William Taylor and his widow Martha (1874-75) which breached a deed of covenant he had with the Bowling Iron Company. He had set up brick-making in opposition to the Bowling Iron works own kilns on land he had leased from the company. BIC eventually took over the brick making activities themselves to produce the [BOWLING IRON WORKS] bricks (1901-1922). Brick production survived longer than the actual iron making. The Rook Lane works had evolved into the Bradford Corporation brick-works on the same site by 1927.  Thanks to Derek Barker for the information.

Brampton

From Chesterfield in Derbyshire, thanks to Simon Patterson for the photos

Brandon

Bridges

photo courtesy of Graham Hague (Sheffield) collection.

Bridgnorth

Found at Kinlet Colliery Engine House, Highley, Shropshire.  Photo by Michael Raybould.

Briggs

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

JS Briggs were brick-makers at Crossley Hall, Fairweather Green, Bradford previously the site of collieries. The third generation of the family consisted of several brick-makers of whom the most noteworthy was Arthur Briggs (1885-1980). Arthur kept the Briggs, Fairweather Green brick works going into the second half of the 20^th century, and died a millionaire.  Thanks to Derek Barker for the information.

Briggs Shipley

By 1869 there was a coal mine on Shipley High Moor, West Yorks operated by Briggs & Co.  The same family owned the Fairweather Green brickworks.  There were several generations who were active in Thornton, Clayton, Allerton and Shipley.  John Schofield Briggs was a coal merchant of Thornton.  His son was Joseph Briggs (1851-1912) who married Arabella Fairbank, thus uniting two Bradford coal mining and brick-making families.  John Schofield Briggs and Joseph Briggs seem to have been partners in several enterprises.  In 1860 they leased land from the Earl of Rosse at Shipley Moor and Sandy Lane Bottom for coal extraction.  Colliery brickworks are common in West Yorkshire although I cannot identify the exact site of this brick's production, unless they were made at Fairweather Green but marked 'Shipley'.  These bricks are still occasionally found today in the Shipley area and also in at least one derelict site near the University of Bradford.  Thanks to Derek Barker for the photo and information.

Brighouse

Photo by Darrell Prest

Photos by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

These bricks were produced by a company called Brighouse Brick, Tile & Stone Co. Ltd., Gooder Lane, Rastrick. I believe that it was this company that built Brick Terrace, Tile Terrace, and Brick & Tile Terrace, Rastrick for its employees. The quarry face behind the terraces is still clearly visible. In the late 19^th century its addresses are given as Rastrick, Brighouse & Hillhouse Rd, Huddersfield.  Thanks to Derek Barker for the information.

Brightside

Made in Sheffield, thanks to Simon Patterson.

photo courtesy of Graham Hague (Sheffield) collection.

Brimington

Thanks to Simon Patterson for the photo

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Bristol Fire Clay Co.

Photographed in Sharpness, Gloucestershire.

Britannia

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Broadmoor, Cinderford

Still in business today in the Forest of Dean.

Bromsgrove

Simon Patterson photographed this one at Avoncroft Museum

Brookes

A Huddersfield brick, photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Edward Brooke & Sons owned the Fieldhouse fire-clay works at Fartown, Huddersfield in the 1870s-80s.  Thanks to Derek Barker for the information.

R. Brown

photo courtesy of Graham Hague (Sheffield) collection.

Bull Bridge

Photo supplied by A.K.A. Demik.

Burwell

Found in Suffolk by Simon Patterson who adds that it was made by Fisons Ltd. in Ipswich.

Butterley Company

The Butterley Company were based in Ripley, Derbyshire and began life as Benjamin Outram & Co in 1790.  They owned several brickworks and the brickworks side of the business eventually became part of Hanson PLC.

thanks to Simon Patterson for the above photos

Thanks to Ian C for the above photos

BW Blades

This one was photographed on a canal bank near Dudley.  B W Blades was actually the name of the brickyard's founder, a Mr. Brownlow William Blades. He was operating a works in West Bromwich by the 1870's through to at least 1900.  Thanks to Tim Lawton for the extra information.

Byron bricks were made at Byron Brick works near Carr Vale Derbyshire. 
Thanks to Simon Patterson for the photos.

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