History of Bricks and Brickmaking
- Origins: Bricks date back to 7000 BC, discovered in southern Turkey near Jericho. Early bricks were sun-dried mud bricks, evolving into fired clay bricks around 3500 BC, allowing use in cooler climates.
- Roman Era: Romans perfected fired brick, using mobile kilns and legion-marked bricks. Bricks were widely used for public buildings, arches, vaults, and aqueducts (e.g., Herculaneum Gate, Pompeii). Roman brick sizes varied, including round, square, oblong, and rectangular forms.
- Middle Ages & Gothic Architecture: After the fall of Rome, brickmaking declined but revived in Italy and the Byzantine Empire. The Brick Gothic style emerged in the 12th century in Northern Europe, notably in the Baltic countries, and was later replaced by Brick Renaissance architecture.
- Medieval Brickmaking: Workers kneaded clay with bare feet and shaped it in wooden frames. England advanced brickmaking by Henry VIII, and after the Great Fire of London (1666), bricks were used extensively for rebuilding.
- Americas: Adobe bricks (clay and straw) have been used in Central America since ancient times. Early American brick structures date to 1611, with bricks being transported between Virginia and Bermuda. In New York and Boston, locally made bricks were prominent in 19th-century construction.
- Industrial Revolution: The introduction of brickmaking machinery in 1885 boosted production, with machines capable of making 12,000 bricks/day by 1925. Brick became the preferred material for faster, cheaper construction.
- Modern Use: In the 20th century, red bricks gained popularity, particularly in Victorian London for visibility in foggy conditions. Architects like Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright used brick extensively. Today, bricks and terracotta remain dominant building materials.
