Air pollution in London during the 19th century and early 20th century commonly caused the bricks to receive a sooty deposition over time, turning the bricks greyish or even black, but the removal of contaminants from the air following the passing of the Clean Air Act in 1956, has enabled older buildings to be cleaned ...
Fascinating Fact: 10 Downing Street was built out of yellow bricks. Due to London's pollution problems, the house got darker and darker. Today, the bricks are painted black because no one would recognise the building if it was yellow. The building was designed mainly out of rectangles.
As the brick heats up, the minerals in its clay can often start to react with the air or other parts of the clay. This leads to the clay switching from its original color to a different one. This is because the hematite, a bright red mineral, reacts to become magnetite, a black mineral.
London's yellow bricks owe their vibrant hue to the rich deposits of London clay, a distinct type of sedimentary rock found abundantly in the region. This clay, when fired, produces bricks with a warm and enduring yellow colour that has become synonymous with the city's architectural identity.
London clay produced the traditional 'Yellow Stock' handmade brick, used extensively during the capital's building boom in the 18th and 19th centuries. Colours vary from a dark gold to a pastel yellow, with black flecks from the ash and clay.
Air pollution in London during the 19th century and early 20th century commonly caused the bricks to receive a sooty deposition over time, turning the bricks greyish or even black, but the removal of contaminants from the air following the passing of the Clean Air Act in 1956, has enabled older buildings to be cleaned ...
Considering the vast range of bricks out there available on the market, from blue engineering bricks to red clay facing bricks, from white brick slips to grey clay brick pavers, there are benefits of having them cut to specific dimensions.
In continuous production since 1877, the iconic London Brick has been used in the building of almost a quarter of England's housing stock. It's an incredible legacy for a product still made the same way after 140 years.
Unfired bricks are referred to as 'green' bricks and are the natural brown-grey colour of unfired clay. We proudly supply green bricks to specialist in alternative building technologies such as straw bale construction, where they are used to achieve thermal mass in internal walls.
What makes red bricks so popular? Red bricks have remained a staple in UK construction management mainly due to the durability and inflammability of the material.
Made with high-quality clay, black bricks offer strength and durability that makes them a popular choice for many different kinds of projects. Their dark color is rich and intense, adding an element of depth and character to any building.
Security. Since 1989, entering Downing Street has required passing through a security checkpoint. The street is patrolled by armed police from the Diplomatic Protection Group, and there is usually at least one police officer outside the front door of Number 10.
Larry was born as a stray cat around January 2007 and later came into the possession of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. In 2011 he was adopted by Downing Street staff, initially intended to be a pet for Cameron's children.
It is therefore unlikely to ever come up for sale on the open market, given its significance as the Prime Minister's official residence. However, a conservative valuation of the property was suggested as £5.3 million in December 2019 according to Ideal Home.
What are yellow stock bricks, and how do they differ from other bricks? Yellow stock bricks are traditional handmade bricks known for their distinctive yellow colour, commonly used in London stock brickwork. These bricks are fired using a specific type of clay that gives them their unique hue.
Given the events, brick was the best choice for reconstructing the city. Clay was easily accessible and the coals made the creation of bricks much easier. But clay wasn't just good for them, it's still a good choice for buildings today.
Because black bricks absorb so much heat, the mortar can dry too quickly in hot weather, which can lead to cracking, shrinkage, and weaker joints. If laid in cooler weather, they hold moisture longer, increasing efflorescence risk. While trendy now, black bricks might not age well.
There are so many fragments, not just because for more than 300 years they were sold filled and routinely chucked when smoked, but also because the hundreds of pipe-makers working along the foreshore would likely ditch their kiln leftovers or rejects into the Thames.
It was also discovered that the familiar exterior façade was not black at all, but yellow. The blackened colour was a product of two centuries of severe pollution. To keep the familiar appearance, the newly cleaned yellow bricks were painted black to match their previous colour.
These occur due to elements like iron, manganese, or vanadium within the brick. If you spot rust-like discolouration, it's likely iron. Manganese often leaves behind black or brown streaks, while vanadium causes yellow or green stains, especially on lighter buff-coloured bricks.
It's a natural effect of the original firing - clay is a geological material and so varies across the batch which causes some variation in how it responds to heat. Also the bricks' position in the kiln relative to the fire and each other affects their burn too, and this will include some turning black.
