Blue Brick on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
Staffordshire blue brick is a strong type of construction brick, originally made in Staffordshire, 
The brick is made from the local red clay, Etruria marl, which when fired at a high temperature in a low-oxygen reducing atmosphere takes on a deep blue colour and attains a very hard surface with high crushing strength and low water absorption.
Brickworks were a key industry across the whole Black Country throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, and were considered so important that they were designated as a
accessed 30 June 2016
/ref> This type of brick was used for foundations as well as being extensively used for bridges and tunnels in
thepotteries.org - Brick making in Stoke-on-TrentKetley Brick CompanyStaffordshire County Council – Clay and Shale (PDF)
mister.red - a collection of images of different "blue" bricks seen in the UK
Bricks Buildings and structures in Staffordshire Architecture in England {{material-stub
Staffordshire blue brick is a strong type of construction brick, originally made in Staffordshire, England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
.
The brick is made from the local red clay, Etruria marl, which when fired at a high temperature in a low-oxygen reducing atmosphere takes on a deep blue colour and attains a very hard surface with high crushing strength and low water absorption.
Brickworks were a key industry across the whole Black Country throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, and were considered so important that they were designated as a reserved occupation
A reserved occupation (also known as essential services) is an occupation considered important enough to a country that those serving in such occupations are exempt or forbidden from military service.
In a total war, such as the Second World War, w ...
during World War Two. The Black Country was a major producer of clay for brickmaking, often mined from beneath the 30 foot Staffordshire coal seam. The industry dates back to at least the 17th century, however brickworks really took off in the 19th century. A key date is 1851 when the Joseph Hamblet brickworks were founded in West Bromwich
West Bromwich ( ) is a market town in the borough of Sandwell, West Midlands, England. Historically part of Staffordshire, it is north-west of Birmingham. West Bromwich is part of the area known as the Black Country, in terms of geography, c ...
, which became one of the largest producers of Staffordshire blue bricks. Other sites produced these as well, including Albion in West Bromwich, Cakemore works at Blackheath, Springfield at Rowley Regis, John Sadler, Blades and New Century at Oldbury, Coneygre at Tipton, and Bentley Hall near Darlaston."The bricks that built the Black Country", Black Country Bugle, 12 May 201accessed 30 June 2016
/ref> This type of brick was used for foundations as well as being extensively used for bridges and tunnels in
canal
Canals or artificial waterways are waterways or engineered channels built for drainage management (e.g. flood control and irrigation) or for conveyancing water transport vehicles (e.g. water taxi). They carry free, calm surface flo ...
construction, and later, for railways. Its lack of porosity makes it suitable for capping brick walls, and its hard-wearing properties make it ideal for steps and pathways. It is also used as a general facing brick for decorative reasons. Staffordshire Blue bricks have traditionally been "Class A" with a water absorption of less than 4.5%.
See also
*Engineering brick
Engineering bricks are a type of brick used where strength, low water porosity or acid (flue gas) resistance are needed. Engineering bricks can be used for damp-proof courses.
Clay engineering bricks are defined in ''§ 6.4.51'' of ''British Sta ...
References
External links
thepotteries.org - Brick making in Stoke-on-Trent
mister.red - a collection of images of different "blue" bricks seen in the UK
Bricks Buildings and structures in Staffordshire Architecture in England {{material-stub