Staffordshire blue brick
Staffordshire blue brick is a strong type of construction brick, originally made in Staffordshire, England.
The brick is made from the local red clay, Etruria marl, which when fired at a high temperature in a low-oxygen reducing atmosphere takes on a deep blue colour and attains a very hard surface with high crushing strength and low water absorption.
This type of brick was used for foundations as well as being extensively used for bridges and tunnels in canal construction, and later, for railways. Its lack of porosity makes it suitable for capping brick walls, and its hard-wearing properties make it ideal for steps and pathways. It is also used as a general facing brick for decorative reasons. Staffordshire Blue bricks have traditionally been "Class A" with a water absorption of less than 4.5%.[citation needed]
See also
References
- ^ "The Industry & Railways of the South West Black Country" in The Industry and Railways of The South West Black Country, 1903 accessed 25 July 2016; Hammond, Martin, Bricks and Brickmaking. Shire, 1981
- ^ "The bricks that built the Black Country", Black Country Bugle, 12 May 2014 accessed 30 June 2016
External links
- thepotteries.org - Brick making in Stoke-on-Trent
- Staffordshire County Council – Clay and Shale (PDF)
- mister.red - a collection of images of different "blue" bricks seen in the UK