Bricks of Victorian London

Overview

Many of London's Victorian buildings are built of coarse-textured yellow bricks. These are 'London stocks,' produced in very large quantities all through the nineteenth century and notable for their ability to withstand the airborne pollutants of the Victorian city. Whether visible or, as is sometimes the case, hidden behind stonework or underground, they form a major part of the fabric of the capital. Until now, little has been written about how and where they were made and the people who made them. Peter Hounsell has written a detailed history of the industry which supplied these bricks to the London market, offering a fresh perspective on the social and economic history of the city.

Author Biography

Dr. Peter Hounsell is the author of London’s Rubbish: Two centuries of dust, dirt and disease in the metropolis as well as several books about Ealing. He worked in public library services for nearly forty years and is a Fellow of the Historical Association.