W & W Pontefract

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Wadsley Bridge

Made in Sheffield, photo by A.K.A.Demik

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Waingroves:  See entry for Butterley

Wains Heather

Frank Lawson writes:  Made by Andrew Wain's Brickworks, Mill Lane, Heather, Ashby de la Zouch.

Walbottle

Walker, Corbridge on Tyne

Walker, Sylecroft

Silecroft lies on the Cumbrian coast 4km NW of Millom.  Image PRBCO.

Made in the Team Valley near Gateshead.

Walkeringham

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

This was a family run yard at the side of the Chesterfield Canal, thanks to Simon Patterson for the photo.  It operated under the name of Tomlinson.

Wall Grange

The Wall Grange brick and tile co. was situated in the Park Lane area of Wall Grange near Longsdon, Leek, Staffordshire.  The yard was in operation from around 1890 until the  1950s.  Thanks  to Ken Perkins for the photos and history.

Wallsend & Hebburn Coal Co. Ltd.

Walter Scott

Walton

Ward

Thanks to John Pease for the contribution. John writes: these are found at various sites in East Leeds. They were probably made by William Ward of Clark Lane, Leeds who are listed in directories of the 1890's.

Warmfield

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Warnham

Spotted in Brighton by Simon Patterson, made by the Sussex and Dorking United Brick Company, Horsham.  Now part of Redland Bricks.

S. Warr, Cradley

Simon Patterson photographed this one at Avoncroft Museum

H. Warrington & Son, Stoke on Trent

Photo by John Pease who took it in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.  It is quite possible that the brick arrived there as ships ballast.

Washington

Wasp Nest

This delightfully named brick was made in Chesterfield and photographed by Simon Patterson.

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection, found near Barlow, Chesterfield.

Waterhead Lane, Newhey

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Watson

Wealden

Made in the Horsham area and now part of Redland Bricks, thanks to Richard Symonds.

Photo by Martyn Fretwell, found in Dungeness, Kent.

Websters, Coventry

Thanks to Amanda Slater for the use of the photos.

Webster & Co, Sheffield

Found in Sheffield by Michaela

J.G. Weir

Wellben

George believes this was the trademark for the South Benwell Brickworks near Newcastle on Tyne.

Westgate

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Photo by Simon Patterson.

Ian Castledine photographed this one in the ruins of an engine house in Flockton, Yorkshire.

West Melton

Photos by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Photo by A.K.A. Demik

Wharncliffe, Silkstone

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Wharncliffe, Woodmoor

Wharncliffe Woodmoor Colliery, Carlton, Royston, South Yorkshire. Closed 1966. 'A brickyard associated with the colliery produced some 50,000 bricks a week' - A Hill, The South Yorkshire Coalfield, 2001. Other bricks from this site stamped WOODMOOR and W M.  Image PRBCO.

Wheeldon Mill

This works was near Chesterfield and was in operation by 1896, thanks to Simon Patterson for the photo.

Whinney Hill Plastic, Accrington

Photo by Simon Patterson

Photographed on the seashore at Crosby, Merseyside.

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Whitaker, Darwen

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Whitaker, Leeds

1

Found in a garden in Leeds, photo by Steve Kind. Michael Hammett writes:  This is from B. Whitaker & Sons Ltd, Elland Road Brickworks, Leeds.  They used Lower Coal measure Clay (below Beeston coal).  Operation dates unknown but still going to 1943.

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Whitehaven

Found on the foreshore at Workington, Cumbria.

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Whitfield, Gloucester

Thanks to Duncan for this one

Whitwick Colliery

also see entry for N.C.B. Whitwick.

Whitwick Colliery was in Coalville, Leicestershire.  This brick was found near Rhyl station
so its a case of the railway being used to import bricks from far afield.

Spotted in Wigston, Leicester by Alex Betteney.

Found in Worksop by Simon Patterson.

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection, found near Thurgarton.

Wilcock, Leeds

Wilcock & Co., Leeds - listed in trade directories 1867 - 1887 at various addresses in the Burmantofts district of Leeds. Image PRBCO.

Samuel and Jim Wilkinson had brickworks in Burslem and Longport.  The brick below has a curious tale: Samuel had a son named Frank Bernard, because he wanted to draw attention to the excellence of the bricks they made and to also get his son a mention he decided the bricks trade name should be Bern-Ard.  When Jim got to hear of this he was totally against the idea.  All the moulds were destroyed and the name Bern-Ard passed into history.  The example below is a rare survivor of a family dispute.  

Bern-ard

Found in Longton, Stoke on Trent by Ken Perkins.

Samuel Wilkinson, Elland - S. W. S.

Found in an 1880's house in Manchester by John T Pitman.

Photo by Darrell Prest.

Photo by Simon Patterson, taken in Hebden Bridge.  All made at the Storth works in Elland, West Yorks.

W. D. L. ( William Drury Lowe) Denby

Ian Castledine writes: WDL stands for Wm Drury Lowe as in Drury Lowe Colliery in Denby, Derbyshire, found at Flamstead drift.

Wilson

Photographed by Simon Patterson at Seymoor Junction signal box Poolsbrook, Derbyshire.

Wilson Bros. Sandal

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Thanks to John Pease for the photo.

Winco

Made by the Wincobank Brick Co. in Sheffield, photo by A.K.A.Demik

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Windhill Brick, Wakefield

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Winlaton, Blaydon on Tyne.

Wisewood

Photo by Alan Murray-Rust.  Alan writes: I can only find one brickworks marked in the immediate area of Loxley and Wisewood, which do tend to have some geographic overlap. In view of the fact that one of your Crapper's example is shown as being from Wisewood, my guess is that my Wisewood example represents a renaming of the brand from the same works. The brick certainly gives the impression of being later than the others.

Withernsea

A small town on the North Sea coast near Hull.  Probably manufactured by Richard Stephenson listed in the PO directory of 1857 as Farmer and Brick-maker. Although in the village of Hollym approximately 1.5 miles from Withernsea, at this time Withernsea was classed as within the Parish of Hollym until 1892.  Thanks to John Tibbles for the photo and information.

Withnell Brick & Terracota 1912 Ltd.

Now a landfill site, situated near Chorley in Lancashire

Found in Mansfield by Martyn Fretwell

Found by John Davies in his garden near Preston.

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Maurizio, a Liverpool football club supporter from Milan made a trip to Liverpool when the old Spion Kop was being demolished in 1994, he got this brick as a souvenir!

Wombwell is near Barnsley, Yorkshire, photo by Simon Patterson

Thanks to Stuart for the above photos

P & S Wood, West Bromwich

Found in South Wales by Lawrence, The brick itself is "thin", being 2" thick, with a dark red centre and grey/black exterior, suggesting it has been double fired, presumably as an engineering brick.  Michael Hammett has added some information on this brick:  Identification was provided in the form of an advertisement found in the London Suburbs Post Office Directory for 1884. It is for "Best Staffordshire Blue Bricks" by P & S Wood of West Bromwich and shows the Star of David symbol, with the W in the centre, as their trade mark. Being advertised in London, it is reasonable to assume that the products could have been supplied by rail to most parts of the country.

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Found near Papplewick pumping station in Notts. by Alan Murray-Rust.

Woods Bros. Blackburn

Photographed on the seashore at Crosby, Merseyside.

Woodkirk

Woodside - see also W. S. Ironi

Woodside Brick Co. Chesterfield Road, Sheffield

Photo courtesy of Graham Hague (Sheffield) collection.  A history of the works may be read here, (scroll down to pages 8 and 9.)

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Thanks to Darren Haywood for the photo.

Woodsome

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

J. Woodward Swadlincote

Photo supplied by A.K.A. Demik.

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Woolley, Bramley also J. W.: Jabez Woolley

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection, found near Asquith, North Yorkshire.  Phillip Rothery writes:  This brick is commonly seen around Leeds and Jabez Woolley seems to be the most likely brickmaker to fit the initials.  The company is listed in trade directories at Elland Road, Leeds between 1875 and 1929.  In 1930 Messrs Jabez Woolley purchased the Bramley Brick Company yard.

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Woolliscroft, Chesterton

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Wortley

Ingham, William & Sons: Wortley Fireclay Works,  later became part of Leeds Fireclay Co.

Found in a garden in Leeds, photo by Steve Kind

Thanks to John Pease for the photo.

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

The reverse side of a Wortley brick.  Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

The front and back of a Wortley Brick, sent by Simon Patterson.  Found near the site of L.D. & E.C. Spinkhill Station.

A Leeds based company, but one whose products are also commonly seen in the Bradford area.  The company was founded by William Ingham in 1825 and later included his sons: Robert, Henry and Frederic.  The firm extracted the triad of coal, ironstone and fireclay from its property at Wortley.  The fireclay site alone covered 7 acres and employed 400-500 people.  The company manufactured most imaginable fireclay products but these included 'firebricks, blast and other furnace lumps'.  After 1889 they formed part of the Leeds Fireclay Co.  Thanks to Derek Barker for the information.

T. Wragg & sons, Swadlincote

This is a salt glazed brick found at the site of Teversal railway station and may have been part of a toilet wall, also the name was pressed into both frogs.  Thanks to Simon Patterson.

Wrights, Sileby

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.  Martyn Fretwell writes:  The owner was William Tucker Wright.  He introduced large scale clay extraction and brick/tile production, where previously it was done on a small scale by individuals in Sileby.  His bricks were used to build St. Pancras Railway Station in London. http://www.sileby-village.co.uk/Potted-History.htm

W. H. (Wrose Hill)

Derek Barker sent this photo and writes: I have only ever seen a single example of the [WH] brick which was found in north Bradford.  The bricks from Wrose Hill brick-works, Shipley are commonly marked [WHFC Co Ltd] or [WROSEHILL][SHIPLEY]; clearly [WH] would be a plausible alternative.  If the initials stand for an individual then William Holdsworth is most likely.  His father Squire Holdsworth (1825-1877) was a builder & contractor of Wyke. For 7 years (until 1863) Henry Birkby was his foreman.  In 1869 Henry Birkby opened his own, very successful, Storr Hill brickworks at Wyke.  William was Squire's eldest son, and by 1871 (at the age of 24) was associated with his father's business.  He seems to have been manager (I assume for his father) of a brick-works at Haycliffe Road, Great Horton, Bradford and was sole proprietor of the whole contracting business after 1877.  He was able to undertake substantial projects including: Kirkgate Market, Bradford, Wakefield Town Hall and the Nutter Orphanage, Bradford. 

Wrose Hill

A brickworks at Wrose Hill, Windhill, Shipley, West Yorks was established in the mid-19th century where the Halifax Hard Bed coal rested on a bed of fireclay 5ft thick.  As well as common bricks the works made specialist bricks, chimney pots and sanitary pipes.  A Mr J.W. Woodhead owned the works in 1870 and at that time was advertising for the construction of a Hoffmann patent kiln.  We know from map evidence that it was constructed. Wrose Hill bricks are common in Shipley and north Bradford. The works can also be seen on the OS maps of 1895, 1908 & 1934.  In the years 1901-1927 the company owning the works known as Wrose Hill Fire Clay.  A 1945 list of mines suggests that Wrose Hill was closed in July 1944.  Thanks to Derek Barker for the photos and information.

W. S.

W.S. bricks were made in Accrington, Lancashire. Thanks to Simon Patterson for the photo.

W. S. Ironi - see also Woodside 

Woodside Brick Co. Chesterfield Road, Sheffield

These two bricks, which are subtly different, are believed to have been made in the Sheffield area.  Thanks to Simon Patterson and Graham Hague for the photos.

Photos by A.K.A. Demik.  Numbers up to 7 - 7 have been located in the Sheffield area.

Production began hundreds of years ago, although the site is not recorded on the Sheffield maps before the year 1902. This was because, until 1900, the Woodside area was not actually part of Sheffield - Meersbrook being the traditional boundary between the two counties of Yorkshire and Derbyshire. There were about fifty small brickworks in Sheffield at that time, each serving the needs of their local community - bricks had to be transported on horse drawn wagons which was quite dangerous considering their weight and the steep hills they had to negotiate. Woodside was one of the largest companies, employing about fifty workers on the Sheffield side of the site. There were two kilns producing a total of approximately 2,000 bricks per day, which may sound a lot, but when you consider that a builder would need about 30,000 to build just one house, it's obvious that the company must have been literally working overtime. The Company produced various types of brick - red brick for house building, blue brick which was made from crushed brown shale, and special engineering bricks.  Photo and information by Darren Haywood.

A WS Ironi 5 5 found by Bill Sheppard in his garden in Sheffield

Wylam

Letter Y.

Yates, Horwich

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

Thanks to Simon Newby for the photo.

Yorkshire, Castleford.

Thanks to Darren Haywood for the photo.

Yorkshire, Edlington

Photo by courtesy of the Frank Lawson collection.

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