Trivia Investigation Team

[Gibbo2286]

I can do bricks too, dug these out of the garden.

[NewcastleFalcon]

I can do bricks too, dug these out of the garden.

The LB bit stands for London Brick

London Brick Company
It has been estimated that a third of all the brick houses in England are built from London Brick Company bricks. The London Brick Company started production just over a century ago and usage peaked in the Post-War rebuilding period up to the Nineteen Sixties. Maximum production rose, at one point, to an amazing 16,000,000 bricks per day. In other words - quite common bricks!

REgards Neil

[Gibbo2286]

We had, maybe still have the London Brick Company here in the Forest of Dean Neil, I presume all the quarries around here were a good source of raw materials.

[NewcastleFalcon]

We had, maybe still have the London Brick Company here in the Forest of Dean Neil, I presume all the quarries around here were a good source of raw materials.

Came across "Marian's Brickworks" in the Forest of Dean as an aside you may find this short piece interesting

https://www.irhb.org/wiki/index.php/Mar ... t_of_Dean)

REgards Neil

[Gibbo2286]

If you're interested Neil we have a website run by an old local that covers most of the Forest. Here: https://www.sungreen.co.uk

[NewcastleFalcon]

THanks Gibbo I'll have a delve. Had you heard of Marian's Brickworks?

Coleford Brick and Tile is still very much in existence http://www.colefordbrick.co.uk/

Here's the former stomping ground of The London Brick Company in Stewartby in Bedfordshire.

Wonder if they found anyone to buy or rent the Chimney...or whether it met the same fate as the 20 or more which were on the site.

Now, what could I do with a rented chimney?

© Copyright M J Richardson and
licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Stewartby brickworks - now closed

© Copyright M J Richardson and
licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.


Stewartby brickworks - now closed by M J Richardson
For TL0142, taken 2008-04-16
After centuries of brickmaking in Bedfordshire, the last bricks were made in February 2008. Modern brickmaking at Stewartby began in 1897; by 1936 the brickworks was part of the London Brick Company, and was the largest brickworks in the world, employing 2,000 and manufacturing over 500 million bricks per year. There were 135 chimneys in use in the Marston Vale, and an old photo in the Bedford Museum shows at least 30 at Stewartby. Recently there have been far fewer, and at the end only 2 kilns and 3 chimneys were in use, producing a total of 135 million bricks a year. The 4 remaining chimneys and 2 kilns are now protected by listed status. Stewartby is closing because the sulphur dioxide emissions from the kilns breached EU and UK environmental regulations.

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Stewartby brickworks - now closed

© Copyright M J Richardson and
licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Stewartby brickworks - now closed by M J Richardson
For TL0142, taken 2008-04-16
After centuries of brickmaking in Bedfordshire, the last bricks were made in February 2008. Modern brickmaking at Stewartby began in 1897; by 1936 the brickworks was part of the London Brick Company, and was the largest brickworks in the world, employing 2,000 and manufacturing over 500 million bricks per year. There were 135 chimneys in use in the Marston Vale, and an old photo in the Bedford Museum shows at least 30 at Stewartby. Recently there have been far fewer, and at the end only 2 kilns and 3 chimneys were in use, producing a total of 135 million bricks a year. The 4 remaining chimneys and 2 kilns are now protected by listed status. Stewartby is closing because the sulphur dioxide emissions from the kilns breached EU and UK environmental regulations.

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Subject of the day

Culham

A place of national/international and in that very overused phrase "world leading" importance.

Hands up if you have ever heard of it, or knew what it was important for.

My curiosity was raised, being one of those who never having heard of it before, on the back of a recent announcement about fusion energy posted here on the energy matters thread.
https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... 94#p700194

Join in take it anywhere you want, lets see what information of interest can be extracted, (whether that be limited, or absolutely fascinating for anyone stumbling across it).

Regards Neil

[Dormouse]

Had a very quick read about Culham and found out that Williams (of F1 fame) have spinoff companies. One makes Specialist Composites for Industry (knew that) but one makes Tenders (as in boats) and is highly regarded (didn't know that). Going back in. I may be some time.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Subject of the day Culham

First thing I wanted to find out where is it Could be useful to store away in the UC question answering depository.

The blue thing is described as the River Thames or Isis on the OS map, the branch under the A34 is the River Ock.

Regards Neil

[Dormouse]

Try this for trivia.

https://www.williamsjettenders.com/our-history/

[bobins]

I had a tour of the place a few years ago. If I can remember anything about it, I'll post it up..... but don't hold your breath

[Dormouse]

Try as I might so far, I cannot find a link from John and Matthew to Frank Williams. Going back in!

[NewcastleFalcon]

Subject of the day Culham

The next question I was interested in was why, in all the metaphorical gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world the UKAEA walked into Culham's.

REgards Neil