Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
the nation's historic architecture. The knowledge, skill, and ingenuity dis-
played in the bricklayer's articulation of cut-moulded enrichments have, for
many centuries, played a crucial part in our brick-built heritage. It is part of a
significant national resource of which we should all be proud, and safeguard
for future generations.
Summary
The period from 1918 to the present (2007) has witnessed the move away from
enriched mass-masonry laid in lime-based mortars to calculated, thin-walled,
structural envelopes, set in cement mortars to meet the required speed of erec-
tion. This has witnessed building crafts changing from crafting to fixing skills,
leading to some brickmakers producing a harder rubber that responds favour-
ably to mechanised cutting and shaping in order to supply pre-cut enrichments
for on-site assembly. This is reflected in the demise of the traditional time-served
apprenticeships to short modular training courses, supplying tradesmen for
modern building sites. This has resulted in a severe shortage of highly skilled
and knowledgeable craftsmen who can confidently undertake cut and rubbed,
and gauged work. Such a change impacts on the quality of work vital for the
successful repair, conservation, and restoration of historic brick properties,
and for its positive inclusion on new buildings erected for the discerning cli-
ent. Due to these factors, it is increasingly common to also occasionally employ
stonemasons to carry out the repair and restoration of gauged work because
of the continued emphasis on the fine crafting skills in masonry that are com-
mon to both. So, in many respects, the story of cut and rubbed and gauged
work in terms of the on-going development turned full circle within the two
allied masonry crafts.
Case Study: Quakers House, North Crawley,
Bedfordshire, England
The Craftsman's Perspective
By Jeff Day, Craftsman Bricklayer, Harrold, Bedfordshire
Quakers House, North Crawley, Buckinghamshire is an existing Edwardian
residence of some size. The extension was to be constructed using Bovingdon
hand made bricks and all works specified to be carried out to the match the
existing brickwork of English bond with decorative features.
The brickwork was to be executed to a gauge comprising of 9 mm bed joints
and 6 mm perpends. The 6 mm perpends in English bond proved to be a chal-
lenge to maintain as the hand made bricks varied in length considerably due
