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

Accrington Nori

A notoriously hard brick made by one of the biggest brick makers in North West England and still being produced today.  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.

photo by Simon Patterson.

Photos by Darrell Prest.  

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

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

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

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. 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.

Baldwin Metric

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

Barlboro

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

Barrass

Beardsley Son

Photo supplied by A.K.A. Demik.

Bennett

Believed to have been made at Bennetts of Spondon near Derby, photos by Ian.

Bennett, Holmes & Kay

Photo supplied by A.K.A. Demik.

Bern-ard

Believed to be a Staffordshire brick, found in Longton, Stoke on Trent by Ken Perkins.

Berry Hill

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

Birkbys, 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

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

Boot, Sutton

Made at Sutton in Ashfield, photo by Simon Patterson

Bovey

Made in Bovey Tracey, near Newton Abbot in Devon

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.

Brighouse

Photo by Darrell Prest

Brightside

Made in Sheffield, thanks to Simon Patterson.

photo courtesy of Graham Hague (Sheffield) collection.

Brimington

Thanks to Simon Patterson for the photo

Broadmoor, Cinderford

Still in business today in the Forest of Dean.

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

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.

Return to the index page