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Society chapter learns about bricks
 | | Architectural Historian Michael Pulice shows HC-ASV charter member Polly Newlon his article on brickwork restoration efforts at Shirley Plantation. (Photo courtesy HC-ASV) |
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MONTEREY - Thick as a brick. Down like a ton of bricks. Hit a brick wall. You're a brick. All of these idioms use the deceptively simple clay brick to illustrate strength. Brick structures in early Virginia, as elsewhere in the world, have always been regarded as strong, impressive creations. Some of the finest old homes and buildings of America are constructed of bricks that still stand today - sometimes hundreds of years after they were built. The essential building block of the structures - the brick - is a unique testament to the brick maker and his materials. Michael Pulice, an architectural historian with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, recently spoke to the Highlands Chapter of the Archaeological Society of Virginia about some of the unique characteristics of brickmaking and brickwork in historic Virginia. He described in some detail the life history of a brick from the pug mill to the final placement by the mason.
Bricks were generally made near the construction site, as the hauling of the finished product could be quite a problem. Local resources of loam, clay, sand, water and other materials gave the mix its color and character. Firebrick, used in chimneys and fireplaces, had higher clay content than regular building brick. Early bricks were mixed by hand resulting in uneven quality. In the early 1800s, pug mill mixing gave the brick maker a better quality and more uniform mix. Once the mix was completed it was placed in some form of mold for shaping. Sometimes the molds had indentations that created "frogged" bricks, which were common until after the Civil War. The "green" bricks were then left to dry several weeks or months before they were fired. The bricks were then piled carefully into kilns and wood fired. The better quality bricks were used for the front and sides of a building, lesser quality in back and some had to be discarded altogether. Once sorted and taken to the construction site, the mason began the intricate laying process.
Brick can be laid in a variety of patterns, or bonds. The largest surface of the brick is generally the face that meets the mortar. The short end is called the header and the length of the brick is the stretcher. By alternating the pattern of header and stretcher and rows, or courses, a bond is made. Some of the different bonds from the historic period commonly seen are Flemish, American, English, Dutch and multiple variants of each. Most contemporary brick work is faced over block, but historic brick work was often the structural work of the building and the strength of the pattern used was in the overlap of the bricks themselves. Sometimes square bricks were made and used for additional strength. Some bricks were cut or rubbed into shapes that could serve as cornices, moldings and other architectural features. The mortar joints were finished in a variety of ways. For a more decorative (and lucrative to the builder) appearance the completed brick work was red washed with powdered iron oxide in linseed oil which gave the brick a bright red appearance. Sometimes the joints were "penciled" with white lead in linseed oil.
One of Pulice's major concerns with brick work is its conservation. As an architectural historian, he had several illustrative examples of decaying brick that will not last to see the next 100 years. No matter how well made, any brick can deteriorate over time. Happy brickwork is dry and sunny. Keeping water moving away from the structure is critical. The undamaged, outer face of a brick will shed water, but a chipped surface absorbs water, which can further damage the interior of the brick and the mortar. Historic buildings should be cared for with conservation in mind. Replacing bricks and or mortar can be a delicate matter. Shirley Plantation recently required some work and the talents of an experienced restoration brick mason were needed. With some detective work he soon found clay on the location and hand made the matching bricks to complete the task. Some examples of ruinous "renovation" were shown in contrast.
Perhaps bricks are taken largely for granted. "All in all, it's just another brick in the wall." Historic bricks bear witness to where they were made, who made them and how they have met the world. Bricks are strong and they will last forever - but only if properly cared for.
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