Bricks - original purpose ???

[tomferry]

Hello all so me and Chris.jc & a mate Glyn had some time out recently, we noticed the strange size of these bricks. I am unsure of their original purpose, I don’t really see a benefit from them being used to back fill a adit ?

Standard brick on top showing the size difference. The mine itself used normal bricks between the arches and for walls any information would be appreciated, we assume they could of been re purposed maybe from a near by kiln when the mine closed down instead of paying labour getting rid of them ?

Reflection shot just to make everyone think where is this ! 🤓🤯🕐🔔

 

[Cantclimbtom]

That reflection shot is so nice, maybe you should enter it into the photo competition on that other site? (serious)

 

[LJR]

The texture, size and shape of them does look like some kind of firebrick. If they have just been used as rubble infill, it is a good bet that they have come from some demolition site somewhere close by.

 

[Cantclimbtom]

I'm sure I've seen them before, just like those, trying to scratch my head to remember where.
The building blocks are the width of the length of a standard brick, so they can be used as a single skin matching the same thickness of bricks laid in a bond for a solid wall like English Bond. Probably some kind of building got demolished, so they shoved the rubble down the hole?

 

[pwhole]

My guess is some sort of firebrick. Are the dark specks a useful clue?

 

[Pitlamp]

Weren't oversized bricks used to build mill chimneys sometimes? Most of these have been demolished and I suppose the rubble would have to be shoved somewhere.

 

[wormster]

I s there a brickworks name stamped into the frog of the brick?? that might give you a lead, silica fire bricks have a “different” feel to them, that one in the first picture looks like a standard “London” brick pattern in yellow clay as opposed to red, it does not appear to have any heat damage and also looks unused in building work - most yellow or white bricks were used in decorative bands or to spell out a “works” name on chimneys etc

just my 2p’s worth

 

[ChrisJC]

The normal bricks are Flettons (from Whittlesea) - which is fairly local.
The larger yellow bricks are unmarked as far as I could see.

I also think they are firebricks.

Chris.

 

[BikinGlynn]

I s there a brickworks name stamped into the frog of the brick?? that might give you a lead, silica fire bricks have a “different” feel to them, that one in the first picture looks like a standard “London” brick pattern in yellow clay as opposed to red, it does not appear to have any heat damage and also looks unused in building work - most yellow or white bricks were used in decorative bands or to spell out a “works” name on chimneys etc

just my 2p’s worth

 

[tomferry]

The normal bricks are Flettons (from Whittlesea) - which is fairly local.
The larger yellow bricks are unmarked as far as I could see.

I also think they are firebricks.

Chris.

Agreed the larger bricks didn’t have a frog also , looking at this I think they was also used for the stowage of the carriage way?

Zoom in full on the middle right water line .

If they have back filled under roads with these and blocked the entrance also , this means they took them in just for that purpose ?

 

[Cantclimbtom]

The normal bricks are Flettons (from Whittlesea) - which is fairly local.
The larger yellow bricks are unmarked as far as I could see.

I also think they are firebricks.

Chris.

🤬 those building blocks firebrick thingies
The imperial Flettons are £6 each

Reclaimed Flettons Multi Imperial Brick 9"x4"x3" 225x100x74mm Leicester | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Reclaimed Flettons Multi Imperial Brick 9"x4"x3" 225x100x74mm Leicester at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

How many have you got down there?

 

[ChrisJC]

Quite a few. Best choose your time - last time we visited, the oxygen level was 13% outside the entrance ☠️

We didn't go in.

Chris.

 

[IanWalker]

+1 for firebricks

 

[tomferry]

If I was to grab, one of the in question fire bricks is there anyway to tell “that is there purpose “ ??

 

[tomferry]

🤬 those building blocks firebrick thingies
The imperial Flettons are £6 each

Reclaimed Flettons Multi Imperial Brick 9"x4"x3" 225x100x74mm Leicester | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Reclaimed Flettons Multi Imperial Brick 9"x4"x3" 225x100x74mm Leicester at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

How many have you got down there?

Ye when the mine is exhaling 13% o2 can’t really recommend a pallet & pump truck !

 

[legendrider]

The colour and size suggests a refractory brick, maybe intended for kiln or furnace lining. Typically made from the seat-earth sometimes found below coal seams, and often produced as a colliery by-product or sideline (many collieries had their own brickworks). The application suggests they have been repurposed here as fill - if the cap fits, wear it I suppose.

Nice pics BTW!

MARK

 

[ChrisJC]

There was a large ironworks nearby, all part of the same concern. And closed at the same time. Maybe they came from there:

 

[ChrisJC]

It is also true that in at least some of the local ironstone mines, the stratum directly above the ironstone was ganister.

Ganister - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

They always tried to leave a thin layer of ironstone in place for the roof, because if they didn't, the ganister would fall in!

Chris.

 

[tomferry]

Right have been back today wiped out by the lovely co2 once stepping inside! but got results got a broken brick and a full one. As you can see these are a serious size ! I hope the components in the image can be seen a bit clearer now.

 

[Boy Engineer]

If this is where I think it is, the bricks did indeed come from the demolition of the kilns, according to the chap who was the surveyor at the mine. He produced a very interesting website with loads of info, but I won’t link to it as the location hasn’t been mentioned yet and I’m assuming some sensitivity. You may have seen it already......