OXLADE FAMILY HISTORY

OCCUPATIONS

THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF TYLERS AND BRICKLAYERS

Link to Contents and Occupations Index

The earliest reference to the Tylers and Bricklayers Company is 1416 although the Guild which represented its crafts was in existence as a trade Corporation for many centuries before then. The Company’s first Charter (which is still in force) was granted in 1568 and its Grant of Arms a year later. A City Ordinance of 1570 defined its area of control to be within a radius of 15 miles of the City and was the first official reference to The Company of Tylers and Bricklayers. The Company ranks 37th in the order of precedence in the City. Two of its members have become Lord Mayor of London.

Changing Fortunes

Bricks and tiles had been used in Biblical times and later used extensively by the Romans. In the Middle Ages most houses were, however, built of mud, wattle and thatch because of cost and the availability of materials. Pressure to abandon these in favour of bricks and tiles grew as a result of several major fires in London and elsewhere and the Masters found it increasingly difficult to maintain and exercise their monopoly of the trade. The final blow to the fortunes of the Masters came in 1666 when, as a result of the Great Fire, King Charles II proclaimed that there should be no more building of timber framed houses in the City and that brick and stone should be used instead. The magnitude of the rebuilding programme was too great for the small number of bricklayers in London. Craftsmen flocked in from the countryside and the monopoly was broken.

Halls and Alms houses

The Company has owned two halls at different times and sold the second in 1918. Today it holds its meetings in various livery halls in the City. One advantage is that the members can visit halls which they might not otherwise see thereby adding interest to its events.

The Company also owned Alms Houses in Islington for the benefit of distressed liverymen and their widows. These were sold in 1937 and the proceeds invested to provide pensions and financial help to the needy instead of accommodation. The charitable work continues today.

Organisation

The Company is led by its Master, assisted by the Upper Warden and Renter Warden. They are appointed annually by the Court of Assistants.

Members of the Court are Past Masters of the Company, Liverymen who will be proceeding to high office, a learned Clerk and a Treasurer. From the Court an Executive Committee is elected to run its day-to-day business.

The Company employs a part-time Beadle and has an honorary Chaplain.

The Freedom and the Livery

Admission to The Freedom of the Company is open to ladies and gentlemen by Patrimony (an applicant born when their father is already a member of the Company), Servitude (apprenticeship to a craft member of the Company), or Redemption (purchase). A Freeman enjoys the social life of the Company including such events as the carol service, summer reception and seminars.

THE BRICKMAKING INDUSTRY IN THE 19TH CENTURY

3.1 Brick production

In the 19th century, and the previous centuries, brickmaking was a seasonal occupation, due to the clay needing to be weathered. The clay was dug out during the autumn and left to weather in the frosts of winter. This was done so that the clay was broken down into lumps (Dobson, 1850). In April the clay was turned over, or put into a pug mill (a grinding machine which was driven by a horse, or later on by an engine). At this point, the stones and pebbles were removed. This had to be done because if left in the stones and pebbles would cause the brick to crack when fired. After further milling and processing the clay was ready to be made into bricks. The second half of the century saw increasing mechanisation, however bricks were made by hand in many brickyards.  A gang was needed to cover the various processes of brickmaking. The clay was carried to the work area from the pug mill, often by children carrying a block of clay on their heads. A person, often a boy or woman, cut the clay to size and passed it on to the moulder, who was normally in charge of the gang (Twist, 1984). The moulder would sand his wooden mould, and throw the lump of clay into the mould, so that it filled every corner (Hammond, 1981). The excess clay would be cut away from the top with a wire bow. The mould could then be lifted up and the newly formed 'green' (unfired) brick lifted and turned out onto a hack barrow. This was a barrow on which bricks could be stacked and then wheeled to the drying area. The bricks were stacked up, sometimes under cover, and left until thoroughly dry and there were enough to fire.  Ralph Hedley's paintings (Appendix XXXVI) illustrate most of these processes except that a pug-mill is not used. Hedley, who lived from 1851 to 1913 and was born in Richmond in North Yorkshire, was a Newcastle genre painter, whose favourite subjects were working people (Wood, 1978). There were two main ways of firing bricks. A clamp kiln was essentially a temporary structure which was made by piling up the green bricks and interspersing the heap with combustible material to help the bricks burn (Avoncroft Museum of Buildings, 1978). This is illustrated in Appendix XXXVII, along with the other processes described. The clamp kiln is on the far right of the painting, and is being encased in already fired bricks. This form of firing was very uneven - the bricks towards the outside being underburnt, with others being overfired. The bricks were sorted, and sold at different prices, depending on their quality. Permanent kilns could take different forms, with updraft kilns channelling hot air upwards, and downdraft kilns pushing the air up and around the kiln. Towards the end of the century the firing process became more mechanised with the use of continuously firing kilns, and the bricks being pressed and shaped by machine. However, clamp kilns were still being used in Sussex as late as 1897 (Beswick, 1993). This way of firing is the most simple form, and when 'brickfield' is seen on a map it may indicate that clamps were still being used. Regarding kilns in York, it is difficult to tell what type of kilns were being used, although it is like that square kilns shown on the large scale OS maps are probably Scotch updraft kilns. There is an example of a circular kiln at Hob Moor which was possibly a downdraft kiln.

3.2 The workers

Although there was some work in the brickfields that continued throughout the year (Twist, 1984), the majority of the work was taken on by casual labour in the summer or 'making season'. This proved a problem for Victorian brickmakers, as, of course, the money ran out. Henry Mayhew writing in that era (quoted in Thompson, 1963) was told that: '... the little daughter of a working brickmaker used to order chops and other choice dainties of a butcher saying, 'Please, sir, father don't care for the price just a-now; but he must have his chops good; line-chops, sir, and tender please - 'cause he's a brickmaker.' In the winter, it was, 'O please, sir, here's a fourpenny bit, and you must send father something cheap. He don't care what it is, so long as it's cheap. It's winter, and he hasn't no work, sir - 'cause he's a brickmaker' (Thompson, 1963, 349.)  Brickmakers were notorious for being '... troublesome and rollicking' (Woodforde, 1976). Twist (1984) reports that brickmakers often had a break from work during the hottest part of the day and were supposed to restart at 4pm, however, they were often too drunk by that time to go back. Even the children got drunk, which was reported in the 'Graphic' of June 1871 (Woodforde, 1976.)  Children often worked in the brickyards. There were many tasks they could manage - from carrying the clay to the moulding table (the clay could weigh up to 24lbs), to wheeling the hack barrow, and stoking the kiln). The children often worked up to a ten-hour day, six days per week (Hammett (ed.), 1988). They often managed to go to school during the winter and were supposed to attend Sunday school during the making season. In reality, the children needed to thoroughly revise the previous winter lessons as they had forgotten everything over the summer. The conditions and lack of education became a matter of great concern for George Smith who published 'The Cry of the Children from the Brickyards of England' in 1871. This bought about the Factories Act (Brick and Tile Yards) which regulated child and female labour. Many more children appeared in school during the spring and summer. However, children were still cheap labour, and it was not until the 1880s that legislation really enforced education rather than employment.  Working hours for brickmakers were very long - often from 3am to 8pm, but there were breaks. The brickmakers would work in a gang, with the foreman being paid for the work, and the gang members taking a share. Often the members of the gang were the foreman's family. The York brickmakers in this project are clearly mostly the owners of the yards, rather than people actually making the bricks. It may be that the names that appear only once or twice in the directories are actually workers, particularly when their address is clearly not in a brickmaking area. One such person is William Brown, living at 24 Barbican Road (mentioned in 1901 and 1904-6). He was also a carter, which may mean that he used this for employment to get round the problem of seasonal work. Indeed, many of the brickmakers in the directories have alternative businesses, such as being a builder or tobacconist. John Shaftoe was a Methodist, which entailed buying a quarterly class ticket (Shafto, 1992). Employers often looked for employees who had a Methodist ticket (available only if the person regularly attended fellowship classes) as they were likely to be conscientious workers. Perhaps John Shaftoe insisted his workers had Methodist tickets.

3.3 External influences

In the 1840s, the growth of the railways, canals and bridges opened the way for a building boom, of which bricks were an important part. There was also the abolition of the Brick Tax in 1850 (which was levied initially to raise money for the American War of Independence in the 1780s) which is reflected in York by an increase brickmakers. The press to produce more bricks rapidly bought about increasing mechanisation. There was another building boom in the 1890s which led to inevitable cut-backs in the early 1900s. John Nelson's Dringhouses brickworks were probably a victim of this, as he went bankrupt in 1902. Henry John Monson was unfortunate in becoming bankrupt in 1890, which must have been due to other reasons.At the end of the Victorian period, as with other industries, there was a move from small family owned businesses, to large scale companies. This is best shown by the St Nicholas Brickworks, which eventually became amalgamated with the Acomb Brickworks in 1923.

4.0 CONCLUSION

This project is very much a preliminary survey and it has gaps and omissions. It has, however, proved that there was a flourishing brickmaking industry in 19th century York. Further work could be carried out by completing the documentation survey as far as possible for all the brickmaking areas. Other aspects, such as the industry further outside York, could be assessed. This could be done on a county basis (or old Riding boundaries would be more appropriate) to see if York's brickmaking might have been affected by outside influences. Certainly, by the early 20th century, the city had a couple of firms in business which clearly came from some way outside York. Perhaps York brick was exported to towns outside the area. The industry in York could be compared to more highly industrialised cities (such as Leeds) to see whether York was typical of the region. It may be that York had only a small scale industry due to the size of the city and the clay sources.Most people will not be aware that brickmaking was ever a part of the city's economy and life. As ever, the more glamourous and attractive aspects of material culture gain more attention - such as Viking helmets or churches. It is clear that the brickmaking industry was a lively and mostly thriving enterprise, that doubtless provided employment for many people. The industry is now seemingly invisible, but you only have to look at the typical York terraced house to find the brickmaking industry of the city.

Freemen may offer themselves as candidates for full membership of The Company as Liverymen. The Livery are expected to share the responsibilities, enjoy the fellowship and participate in its social and more formal activities. Liverymen will also be expected to support the craft and charitable work of the Company.

The organisation of Tylers (roof and floor tile layers) and Bricklayers existed in 1416; it was incorporated by a Royal Charter in 1568. Originally, the Company possessed a monopoly over bricklaying within the City of London. However, after the Great Fire of London, the King decreed that brick or stone, instead of timber, should be used in the building of homes. There was too much rebuilding to be done by only the Tylers' and Bricklayers' Company; craftsmen from across England were summoned, and the monopoly was terminated. The Company now exists, along with most Livery Companies, primarily as a charitable body. The Company also supports various building schools. The Tylers' and Bricklayers' Company ranks thirty-seventh in the order of precedence of Livery Companies. Two of its Liverymen have become Lord Mayor of London.

The Company has a Christian tradition. Any candidate for the Livery should be sympathetic to this historical position. The Company Church is St Margaret Lothbury

On 1 December 1647 James,son of James Oxlade, husbandman of Stokenchurch,Oxfordshire was apprenticed to William Sanderson of the Paviours Company of London.

SOURCE:

Illustraton: in Green, Herbert :Village Life in 18th Century

http://candle-making.crafts-guides.com/a/188397/Worshipful+Company+of+Tylers+and+Bricklayers.html

http://www.tylersandbricklayers.co.uk/

Brickmaking c. 1850 AD

There are five steps needed to make bricks.

It took an experienced potter, mason, or brick maker to mix the clay, sand, and water in the correct proportions and to construct the kiln for firing. The wet clay mixture was placed in wooden molds by hand, scraped smooth then taken from the molds and set out to dry in the sun. After drying, the bricks were stacked for burning. This temporary kiln, known as a "clamp" consisted of several walls of raws bricks built parallel to each other, each about three bricks in thickness. At a height of about two feet the walls were joined by corbeling courses into one large stack with small air spaces between the bricks. The stack could be built up to a height of eight to ten feet.

A fire of coal of wood was stared in the bottom of the clamp, with tunnels near the bottom serving as fireplaces. After the fires were started, the ends of the tunnels were blocked off. If correctly built, the temperature in the clamp reached 1800 degree mark needed to harden the bricks. The fires were built up gradually, then the heat maintained for several days. When the fires stopped burning, the clamp was allowed to cool for several days before disassembling.

When the clamp was dismantled the bricks were sorted so that the hardest bricks could be used for the outer wall. The bricks varied widely in color and quality due to impurities in the clay and sand and the brick's location in the clamp. The ends of the bricks which were closest to the fire were a darker color than the other faces and could be used for accents in the finished wall.

SOURCE: http://www.shol.com/agita/thespiel.htm

The first step is called WINNING, or mining the clay.

Because the steam shovel was not invented until 1879 early brickmakers had to dig for the clay on site with hand shovels. This was done in autumn. The early brickmaker chose his clay by it's color and texture and based on his experience. He sought clay that was located just under the topsoil to minimize the hard work of digging it with hand spades. The clay was exposed to the weather so that the freeze-thaw cycle of the winter could break the clay down and allow it to be worked by hand. The winter made the clay soft and removed unwanted oxides.

The second step is PREPARATION of the clay

In the spring the clay was then able to be worked by hand. It was necessary to either grind the clay into a powder and screen it to remove stones or the clay was was placed into a soaking pit where it was mixed with water to obtain the right consistency for moulding. It was kneaded with the hands and feet to mix all the elements of the clay together. This step was called tempering or pugging and was the hardest work of all. In the mid-1800's horse driven pug mills were invented. (below)

The clay was removed from the soaking pit or pug mill by a temperer who delivered it to the moulding table.

The third step is MOULDING.The assistant brick mouder was called the "clot" moulder and he would prepare a lump of clay and give it to the brick moulder. The brickmoulder was the key to the operation and he was the head of the team. He would stand at the moulding table for twelve to fourteen hours a day and with the help of his assistants could make 3500 to 5000 bricks in a day. He would take the clot of clay, roll it in sand and "dash" it into the sanded mould. The clay was pressed into the mould with the hands and the excess clay removed from the top of the mould with a strike, which was a flat stick that had been soaking in water. This excess clay was returned to the clot moulder to be reformed . Sand was used to prevent the clay from sticking to the mould.

Moulding table shown in Dobson's Book

Mould (top) and stockboard (below) of the kind used for making bricks in the nineteen century

Single, double, four or six brick moulds were used. The single brick mould had an advantage in that a child could carry it to the drying area. Beech wood was the prefered material for the mould for it was claimed that the clay would not stick to it. The top of the mould was laminated with iron to prevent wear. The brick slid easily out of the mould because it was sanded and these bricks are referred to as "sand struck bricks". The process was also referred to as slop moulding.The next person on the team was called an off-bearer. He would walk up to the moulding table, remove the filled mould and take it to a drying area on a pallet or barrow where it would be placed on a level bed of sand. He would then return the mould to the table and wet and sand it to receive the next brick.

Barrow for twenty-six bricks illustrated by Dobson

The fourth step is DRYING

The moulded bricks were stacked in a herring bone pattern to dry in the air and the sun. The moulded bricks were first left to dry for two days at which time they were turned over to facilitate uniform drying and prevent warping. During this time tools called dressers or clappers were used by "edgers" to to straighten the bricks and obtain a smooth surface. After four days of dry hot weather the bricks were sufficiently hard to allow them to be stacked on end in a herringbone pattern with a finger's width between them to allow futher drying. This area was called a hack or a hackstead and the bricks were covered under roof or with straw to protect them from the rain or harsh sun. After two weeks the bricks were ready to be burned. (contest)

The fifth step is BURNING

If fired bricks were on hand they were used to construct the outer walls of the kiln and the surface was daubed with mud to contain the heat. If no fired bricks were availible the kiln was constructed entirely of green or raw bricks which were stacked in such a way as to act as their own kiln. These kilns were called clamps or scove kilns. Wood and coal were used for fuel.

Even after drying in air the green bricks contained 9-15% water. For this reason the fires were kept low for 24-48 hours to finish the drying process and during this time steam could be seen coming from the top of the kiln. This was called "water smoke". Once the gases cleared this was the sign to increase the intensity of the fires. If it was done too soon the steam created in the bricks would cause them to explode. Intense fires were maintained in the fire holes around the clock for a week until temperatures of 1800 degrees F were reached. The knowledge and experience of the brickmaker dictated when the fireholes would be bricked over and the heat was allowed to slowly dissipate over another week.

When the kiln was disassembled the sorting process began. If only raw bricks were used, the bricks from the outermost walls were kept to be burned again in the next kiln. Some bricks which were closest to the fire recieved a natural wood ash glaze from the sand that fell into the fires and became vaporized and deposited on the bricks. These bricks were used in the interior courses of the walls. Bricks that became severely over burned and cracked or warped were called clinkers and were occasionally used for garden walls or garden paths.

The best bricks were chosen for use on the exterior walls of the building. Those that were only slightly underfired had a salmon color and early bricklayers knew that the porosity of these bricks would help to insulate the structure and they were placed on the innermost courses of the wall.

According to representatives from Virginia Limeworks, to protect the underfired bricks and mortar and to impart a uniform color to the exterior wall surface a "Color Wash" was applied. This consisted of glue sizing, pigment (iron oxide), and potash alum as illustrated below. The mortar joints were then painted white.

The information on this page was downloaded in it's entirety from http://www.shol.com/agita/thespiel.htm

A History of Brickmaking – Florence Kroes

Colonial Brickmakers

By: Tyler

Colonial brickmakers made bricks out of clay for a living. The brickmakers built houses for people in colonial times. Bricks were used to build sheds as well as houses. For some odd reason, brickmakers weren't paid that much, so that means they weren't rich.

Brickmasters would visit jails to find people to work with them. They would turn prisoners into brickmakers. These brickmakers would only receive one meal a day.

Bricks would be made out of clay. The brickmakers would put the clay in a treading pit. Then they would stomp on the clay in the treading pit. Water would be put in the clay so the clay would be soft. Next the clay was put on a modeling table to be shaped into bricks. The kiln was the final destination for the bricks. Once the bricks were fired, the bricks were taken to a drying shed to dry for two to three weeks.

People thought brickmaking was hard to do. Brickmaking did not seem hard. Of course, it was easier than working with stone. You needed mathematical skills to work with bricks.

Brickmakers were important in the colonial times. Most brickmakers were very kind people. The bosses weren't kind and didn’t treat the brickmakers equally. Brickmakers are still important to society today.