Day 8. Bricks and Mortar

Bricks were used in Britain by the Romans, but were abandoned by the Anglo-Saxons in favour of timber-framed houses and wattle and daub. From  Medieval times, bricks again began to appear in Britain. They were costly to make and difficult to transport, but had the overwhelming benefits of durability and fire-resistance. Production became cheaper and by the 17^th century they were in common use. A century later many old timber-framed houses were pulled down and rebuilt in the current fashion.

 Church House, a 17^th century farmhouse, was rebuilt in brick in the  mid 18^th century. Some timber-framing survives at the rear, safely out of sight of visitors.

Bricks were made as close to the construction site as possible, and the clay was dug locally. Former clay pits are evident as hollowed-out areas in Park Farm's orchard and in the grass field called the Greenground.

Locations of brick kilns are hinted at by field names such as Old Brick Kiln Ground and New Brick Kiln Ground, near Rough Farm. They were constructed to build this farm and  two others nearby.

The Brick Yard on the A3400 was probably built in the late 18^th century, and was in use until the early 20^th century. The bricks which surround a large part of Alscot Park were probably made here.

                                          The clay pit in the Greenground.

                                         The brick wall around Alscot Park.

The brickwork in the granary of Park Farm. Uneven firing of the bricks created a range of colours in the finished products, often used decoratively.

The Industrial Revolution and the rapidly expanding urban areas fuelled  a need for the mass production of cheap bricks. Brick-making, a skilled and prestigious craft for many centuries, then became another soulless industrial process.