BRICKMAKERS

Bricks have been made in this country since Roman times. As the industry developed, the shape of the bricks changed from the Roman tiles to the size that we are familiar with today. The earlier bricks were thinner until the introduction of the ‘frog’ in the late 17th century. This indentation in one face helped the compaction of the clay when it was thrown into the mould.

The size of bricks was influenced by the introduction of the brick tax in 1784 (initially at a rate of 2s 6d for every 1,000), created to raise funds to fight the American War of Independence. Some brickmakers like Joseph Wilkes tried to reduce their tax liability by producing