The History Of Bricks - Are They Here To Stay?
Since the master brickmakers, the Romans, conquered Britain 2,000 years ago, brick has been one of the most popular materials for buildings across the UK.
It fell into decline when the Romans left Britain in the 5th century, and it wasn’t until much later that the use of bricks slowly returned, with Flemish bricks increasingly imported into Britain in the early thirteenth century. In time, the quality of brickmaking in the UK rose to a level where imported bricks were no longer the main source of bricks in Britain.
Then came the Great Fire of London. It’s a common myth that the consequential damage was the catalyst for the sudden revival of brick as a prominent building material. But there were many brick buildings in London before 1666, even on Pudding Lane where the fire began. In fact, in 1605, King James I said that no one should build a new house in London unless it was made from brick or stone because he needed timber for the navy’s ships. However, this rule was only occasionally obeyed. The devastation wreaked by the Great Fire served as the ideal grounds for enforcing this law and it is since then that brick construction quickly became widespread across the UK.
It wasn’t until after the war that the dominance of brick waned. Pre-fab buildings sprang up across the country, with some 500,000 pre-fabricated buildings built after World War II. With a shortage of bricks, and the need to quickly rebuild the country, a long-term solution that was low cost and efficient was needed. This is where the use of reinforced concrete came in, especially in urban areas.
These buildings were revered for their modern appearance, with architects embracing the design possibilities of the material. However, they soon faced criticism and controversy. So, brick re-entered the scene.
In recent years, the case for brick has grown even stronger, with tragedies like Grenfell raising huge concerns about the suitability of other materials in construction. Unlike some of the other recommended fire-resistant materials, brick is a much more economically viable option. Durable, environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing, brick is here to stay.
At Classic Brick, we supply a unique range of genuine handmade bricks in a beautiful selection of colours and textures. Our bricks are available in the following Imperial sizes: 50mm, 68mm and 73mm and 65mm Metric, so there is always something to fit your project. Browse our range and get in touch with the team today: https://www.classicbrick.co.uk/contact-us/
