5JG TlIEOIiY OF iUiCniTECTURE.

BooicII.
uniformity of colour, resists frost and the action of acids much longer than otliers. They
are manufactured at Hull.
1831. The
Siiffuik bricks, called white Suffolks, are of two or more qualities, expressly
made for facings, and are expensive; the best are rarely to bo obtained in London, being
sold in the locality of their manufacture. They have a disagreeable cold hue, rendered
still more dull after a few years' wear in the smoky atmosphere even of a provincial town.
They are ii'jt so well burnt as those which are somewhat of a light pink or salmon tint.
These latter are to be bought at the kiln at about 17*'.
per thousand, and by some persons
are thought to make better brickwork than those which fitcli 60s. or more per thousand
in London. The works supply superior white and red (kilnburnt)
Sitfolk facings, splays,
door-jambs, coping bricks, stable clinkers, &c. ; dark red facings, rubbers, sp'ays, paving
bricks, &e. ; bright yellow malm facin;:;s, and cutters of best quality. Mean quality, and
pale malm seconds, pickings, paviours, &c. A dark-coloured brick from Hunttnqdnn is
of a finer colour, uniform, much smoother than ordinary, and equal to those made in Kent.
18316. Bcarisfatcnt bricks are made at Arsley, near Hitchin, on the Great Nortliern
Railway, of the following qualities, ranged according to price:AVhite rubbers; hand
made moulded solid brick, equal to the best Suffolks; No. 1 best selected white facing
brick (pierced)
;
and ordinary; these two are of uniform colour, hard and well burnt, and
used extensively for facings ; No.
'2.
mingled, red and pink, vary from the above only in
colour, and are equal in every respect to the best made stock bricks. These bricks are
made from the Gatdt clay, one of the subcretaceous formations interposed between the
chalk and the wealden deposits, or between the chalk and the upper oolite. The composi-
tion varies, for although it is of a tolerably uniform dark blue colour, it sometimes contains
lari^e quantities i^ comparatively) of the hydrous oxide of iron; and in others it contains
much < f the bicarbonate of lime, in combination. The former burn in the kiln into a deep
red brick or tile of rather inferior quality
;
the latter are used for the pierced hard white
bricks above described. It is stated that these bricks are required to be burnt with great
care, for if the calcination of the lime should take place under such conditions as to leave
the lime in a caustic state, it will slack on exposure to the weather, or when moisture is
applied to it. There is some difference of opinion as to whether mortar can be made to
adiiere to the smooth hard face of these bricks to make sound and strong work.
1831(?. The red bricks derive their colour from the nature of the soil wiiereof they are
composed, which is generally very pure. The best of them are used for cut ing-bricks,
and are called red rubbers. In old buildings they are frequently found set in lime putty,
and often carved into ornaments over an-hes, windows, doorways, &c. The Fareham reds
are noted bricks. The Ilowlands Castle (Hampshire) brii^k, tile and terra-cotta wurks
supply reds in colour and appearance similar to Fareham. They are very liard and strong.
At a mean pressure of 76,867 lbs., or 686 cwts., they cracked slightly, and with
140,617 lbs., or 1255 cwts., they cracked generally; givinji
141-9 and 2o9'5 tons per
square foot. The Thurstonland brick, from near Huddersfield, is made from a deep bed
of shale, producing when burnt a rich red colour; each brick undergoes a pressure of
14 tons, is well burnt, and being of a vitreous nature is impervious to atmospheric and
other destructive influences. Moulded bricks can be made. They have been used at
some of the London Board Schools, and largely at Blackburn and Sheffield. The crush-
ing st'-ain is over 399 tons per square foot, and the brick contains 65 per cent, of silica.
1831c?. Black bricks are obtained from Cou bridge, in Soutli Wales
;
these wore used at
All Saints' Church, Margaret Street, and cost 4 per thousand. The Ballingdon or Ewell
deep black rubbing and building bricks, probably so rendered by manganese, are soft
in make and dead-looking in colour. The same factory, and Challbnt, supply dark, and
bright, red rubbers
;
with black headers, glazed and unglazed. Red and black bricks are
sent from Burgess Hill, Sussex; and from Maidenhead, in Bt-rk.shire.
1831e. Bricks are now made glazed white and also many other plain colours; others
with patterns on the face as borders and for decorative purposes. The white glazed
bricks are used in lieu of tiles for the reflation of light; others for securing perfect
cleanliness of wall surface ; and for obtaining quiet and neutral tones of colour lor the
walls of wards of hospitals, and other similar purposes.
1832. By the 17th Geo. III. cap. 42, all bricks made for sale were directed, when
burnt, to be not less than
8^
inches long,
2.V
inches thick, and 4 inches wide. This statute,
which was enacted for the purpose of levying a duty, is now no Lmger in force, and the
manufacturer is at liberty to make bricks and tiles of whatever size and form maybe best
suited to the work for which they are used. This Act having been rescinded, has led to the
introduction of moulded and ornamental bricks to a vast extent, which will probably be
still further extended as brickiinking machines become more useful and certain in their
operations. The paten's for them are now very numerous : some of them are stated to
make uj- to
20,(i00
per day, as may be required. The size of the brick, however, has beeix
retained, and habit will, no doubt, continue it in favour, especially for repairs.