Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
loss of superfluous ornamental architectural decoration and the demise of
associated crafting skills. In terms of structural brickwork, gauged work was dis-
missed as an unnecessary and highly expensive extravagance.
Brickmaking - A Changing Rubbing Brick
The two kinds of brickmaking - traditional hand-made and mechanically pro-
duced - have continue to co-exist throughout this long period although the
latter has expanded rapidly at the expense of the latter. This has had inevitable
effects on the production, quality, and variety of rubbing bricks available.
Many rural brickyards did not re-open after the First World War, despite
the recovery of building activity. Almost all the traditional brickyards who
made their own rubbing bricks gradually scaled down production, or stopped
altogether, due to the huge reduction in demand for decorative brickwork.
The construction industry in general, however, grew rapidly, assisted by large
amounts of government aid intended to help house returning soldiers and to
revitalise industry. The brick industry was prosperous during this period, and
saw substantial re-investment. Many large firms replaced steam power with
electricity, and the introduction of petrol lorries for brick deliveries meant not
only the beginning of the end for the horse and cart but also less reliance on
the railways.
The Second World War once again brought the closure of brickyards, but
thankfully, the government and the brick companies had learnt from the First
World War and developed a financial scheme to ensure funding for re-opening
after the cessation of hostilities. It was at this time the Brick Development
Association (BDA) was formed to administer these funds, its objectives being the
research and education in the correct use of brick. Despite this help, many small
firms were not to re-open and in 1946 there was estimated to be 1,350 brick-
works employing 40,000 workers, yet through mechanisation annual brick pro-
duction continued to rise (Brick Development Association, 2003).
The decline in demand for rubbing bricks throughout the 1950s and on
into the 1960s led to a dramatic reduction in the numbers of brickyards mak-
ing them (albeit on an occasional basis to cater for a particular order) to just
a handful. The main company supplying the wanted demand was Thomas
Lawrence of Bracknell (Berkshire).
To encourage better constructional use of their rubbers and make up for
the lack of on-site workshops and skills of setting out and cutting of arches,
Lawrence offered a cutting service supplying camber, segmental, and semi-
circular arches for on-site assembly. From measurements supplied by the archi-
tect or builder, they would draw the full-size arch, obtain templets, and cut the
voussoirs using an electrically powered bench-mounted 'Clipper' disc-cutter
and rub mouldings within profiled boxes (Fig. 150).
