Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-15
oLD-TrsiE BRICKS.
Were They Imported Into Virginia
In the Colonial Times!

the use or Dicks Imported from Enkiaht
in the construction OF Colonial buildings
IN Maryland and Virginia 1 attempt TO
perform my various engagements with
out assistance, and have been somewhat
beset with duties.
1 hope that my delay in responding 20
your invitation will be excused. 1 appre-
ciate the kind terms in which you ex-
press your estimate of my unpreten-
tious efforts as a historical student. Re
cognition OF ones labors is always CRATE
full / yield to no one in love OF Viz
ginia and a Just regard for her every in
terest, and the worthy eXemplacation OF
her sons and daughters in every phase
and station. Under the providence OF
God, whilst physically sustained. l shall
continue 10 conserve facts and memorials
Illustrative Of her history. Irrespective
OF Unborn bias, from long indulgence.
could not now contentedly abstain from
so doing.
NV position in the controversy as 10
bricks used in the Colony Of Virginia IS
indeed substantially" that OF my ex-
cellent friend, President Lyon G.. Tyler,
of William and Mary College. My de-
ceased friend. Rev. Philip Slaughter u.
D., with whom | was sometimes a col
laborator, was also much exercised du-
the delusion so prevalent as 10 the I'M
portation of bricks 10 Virginia.
There is abundant evidence OF record,
and IN print, that the early colonists had
a practical knowledge of brick-maKing.
AS they. for a long period, imported from
the Mother Country not only clothing.
furniture. and nearly every article OF do
nestle use. but also materials for me-
chanical purposes, 1t may be concluded
~ ln1 fh.. OH 81
ballast Of all vessels Of burthen coming
to Virginia at any time whilst she was
a Colony: certainly this must be so, for
a period advanced into the eighteenth
century.
Until about 1920 when Governor Spots
wood manufactured pig-iron and castings.
the whole supply Of iron and articles OF
such material, we're imported. Swedish
and other qualities of wrought iron con-
tinued 10 be used I'm Virginia throughout
the eighteenth century. Few, II any
bricks, | am inclined 10 believe. were
brought to Virginia az ballast.
Some incidental observations as 10 the
size and appearance Of Colonial bricks
and the fashion Of laying them may be
Of some interest. A favored mode Of lay
ing the bricks was by placing them
lengthwise and endwise Tor at a right
angle alternately. In the succeeding
layer. or course, the brick at right angle
or header" as 1t was technically term
cd, was so laid that IL was at the centre
OF the brick beneath.
The bricks were burned In two colors-
n deep cherry and a rk-blue-the wall,
therefore, presented a checkered appear
ance. The darker bricks were made so
through the agency Of black sand. which.
IN smelling, gave a glazed surface 20 the
brick. PlumbagO may also have been
used. The bricks lining the eyes or
openings and furnaces OF the kilns
Of this day, have a like silicated
surface. The mortar las il is wo.l-known)
used in the construction of Colonial build
ings, was OF selected sharp" sand and
lime Of burned oyster shells 1t made an
lndestructible cement-as hard as stone.
\ number Of buildings In which such
bricks were used are still extant. Among
them I recall Mangohick and Acquinton
churches in the upper and lower portions
OF King William county, and Hanover
Courthouse. am not informed definitely
at What time stock" or press
ed' bricks first came into use.
Such bricks as present a smooth sur
face and were used in ornamentati0n or
In arching In Colonial times, were made
smooth by attritiOn, the action
being manual and the agents
sand and water. Such bricks were used
in arches over the basement windows OF
'Ampthill," in Chesterfield county. built
by that staunch patriot, Archibald Cary,
known as "Old Iron" because OF his
stern integrity. During the summer and
autumn Of 1915 | made number Of vis-
tations with a friend (since deceased, to
various places Of historic interest in the
vicinity Of Richmond From some OF
them / secured specimens Of Colonial
bricks.
From the plateau OF the blufH imme-
diately below Dutch Gap, on James river.
which was the site of the pretentious
Henricopoes, / have bricks OF ordinary
color which measure eight inches in
length by four in width. and two and a
quarter inches in thickness.
These bricks are numerousy scattered
over an area Of several acres. Warwick,
"A dead town" which was located in
Chesterfield county on the south side Of
James river, about seven miles below
Manchester, and which In commercial
importance oVershadOwed embryonic
Richmond. in 17s5 was represented by
lone three-cornered chimney Scattered
bricks were numerous here. and they
We're the smallest / have observed any
where They were hari-burned, and In
dimensions 1-2x3 l-2xl 81 inches The
traces Of the wharves of the town were
distinctly identified. James river was at
ebb-tde. and piles OF chalk and flint
were visible. They We're evidently dis
carded ballast. We have read of the
chalk cliffs OF Dover" England-the flint
also doubtless came from her coasts.
There has been discussion as TO the
ancient art OF making glass iridescent,
but II has been established that rides
cence is produced by decay OF the sur
face Of the glass. There We're striking
evidences OF this fact in fragments OF
bottles found among the debris at the
base Of the decayed wharves OF War
wick.
A brick brought me by a lady
friend (for which man might be CRATE
fun from the assumed site Of the birth
place Of George Washington az Wake
field. Westmoreland county, measures
9x5x3 inches.
Another. from the Oldest tomb in the
precincts of st. Johns church (comnleted
in l7iD. measures SxS 3-ix2 ID Inches.
l am Informed by a prominent brick
manufacturer and builder Of Richmond.
that the standard size now in common
use is 5 ~ inches in length by ais inches
in width by 2 l-2 inches I'm thickness.
This communication is desultory, 1 can
only plead in eXtenuation the want OF
time for one more studied. and that you
have occasioned the infection.
l beg to remain, faithfully yours.
r. a. BROCK.