Here in at the Quirky Museum I have been taking more notice – and appreciating – our Bedfordshire bricks. You can see from the photographs below, there is quite a variety and I confess to knowing little about the world of bricks. That might change before too long as it seems fascinating.
Regular readers might remember the Quirky Museum has a Victorian front and the back part of the house is older. It is clear looking at the brick work that different modifications and additions have been made at various times over the years.
We definitely have a sense of being in a long line of occupants, or custodians, and hopefully many to follow. Each will probably have carried out their own alterations and we will be no exception, although I am mindful of doing things in a sympathetic way. The Quirky Museum isn’t listed (Rachel recalls that was a possibility which her father managed to dodge) and we are just on the outside of the conservation area but this does not give us carte blanche to botch things. Far from it.
Anyway, this blog post is merely a glimpse at the variety of brick work used over the centuries. We imagine some may have come from the brick works at Stewartby in Bedfordshire but cannot be sure. Alternatively it is possible some bricks may have been made locally by a travelling brick maker using local materials and a portable kiln. Again, something I’d like to learn more about.
If you do know anything about Bedfordshire bricks that may have been used here in Toddington, please leave a comment below :o). Either way, I think there’s a certain beauty to them.
You might find this interesting, if you haven’t already seen it:
https://www.bedfordshiregeologygroup.org.uk/uploads/1/3/2/1/132121510/blgg_brickmaking.pdf
Many thanks for this Anni. I’ve had a read of that leaflet which is most interesting. It’s amazing to think, although Bedfordshire is not a spectacular county, there is a huge range of geological rocks, soils etc.