Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
The tools and cutting techniques used by the craftsmen preparing post-fired
worked bricks were largely as in the previous periods. We therefore read of
'hewen chamfrette', at Theobalds (Hertfordshire) in 1607-10 (Colvin, 1982,
275). For Inigo Jones at Whitehall, London in 1625, we read of 'the brick
woorke being hewed with the axe' and in Whitehall Palace, London in 1635
we read of brickwork 'neately axed and joynted [jointed]' (Colvin, 1982, 337).
Jigginstown House, in Naas, County Kildare, Ireland (
c
.1635-37) was built
in brick in a sophisticated Mannerist fashion by Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl
of Strafford (1593-1641), whilst Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; during the reign
of King Charles I (1625-49). In the conserved ruins of the once magnificent
brick property, one can still observe the decorative cut and rubbed enrich-
ments. Linear emphasis is achieved through cut and rubbed moulded plinth,
platt band and cornice picked-out in very small (180
38 mm) pale yel-
low, possibly Flemish, bricks. These bricks have been rubbed perfectly flat on
their beds and are in contrast with the standard size of red bricks used for
main colour washed elevations; for polychromatic effect. An annotated draw-
ing of 1726 by Edward Lovett-Pearce, artist and draughtsman, for his client
Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Cork, shows architectural detail of post-fired worked
bricks incorrectly described in contemporary language as 'rub'd and gadged'
(see case study, p. 99).
83
Prominent Artisan Architects and Master Craftsmen
The name of a significant master bricklayer who had both a strong connec-
tion with the Artisan Mannerist movement and the transition from accurate
'cut and rubbed' work to precise gauged brickwork is Peter Mills (1597-1670).
He was the son of John Mills, a tailor in East Dean (West Sussex), he became
apprenticed to John Williams, Tyler and Bricklayer of London, on 30th
November 1613 (Colvin, 1995, 390-91). Mills himself took his first apprentice
in 1629 and during this period he was to work professionally with Inigo Jones
and his influential architect pupil, John Webb (1621-67).
On 17th October 1643, Mills was appointed 'Bricklayer to the City of
London'. As a sign of his regard, both within his livery company and the craft
itself, he was also made 'Master of the Tylers and Bricklayers' Company' in
1649-50 and again in 1659-60 (Bell, 1938, 68). Mills was highly regarded and,
as he moved upwards in his craft, gained prominent architectural work in the
city, as well as after the Restoration on the re-building of the centre of Cobham
Hall (Kent) 1661-63. He was appointed as one of four surveyors, or 'measur-
ers', as they were then termed (Colvin, 1995, 655), to supervise the re-building
of London after the Great Fire of 1666; working alongside Wren, May, Hooke
and Sir Roger Pratt.
