The bricks you are dealing with are probably firebricks.  Stourbridge was
the original source for refractory clay for glasshouse pots (from the 17th
century), and firebricks (by the early 18th).  These were white bricks (in
practice yellow) and suitable for high temperature applications, such as
lining furnaces.  These were shipped down the river Severn and thence to
many places.  At one (18th century) period, I believe there was an export
prohibition.  By the 19th century other sources of fireclay were found.

There was a Stourbridge Firebrick Association, but only from 1937.  It
stopped collecting subscriptions in the 1970s when most firms stopped making
firebricks and was wound up in the 1980s.  Rufford & Co were not members,
and had presumably closed by then.

Rufford and Co had extensive mines south of the road from Stourbridge to
Birmingham.  I do not know the first names of all the owners, but recall
coming across Philip and Francis.  The family were also bankers in the early
19th century, but their bank failed in 1851 and several of the family became
bankrupt.  I suspect that some genealogical work would come up with a family
member with a suitable Christian name (such as Benjamin).  This might enable
you to pin down the date better.  Nevertheless I am sure that I have seen
later evidence of the family as property owners

If what you are dealing with is anything like the ironworks that I research,
furnace linings had to be replaced at frequent intervals, so that the
archaeological remains reflect the final period of use, perhaps just the
final year.

I should add that the normal house bricks in this area are red bricks, but
the Black Country coalfield also produced blue engineering bricks
(Staffordshire blue bricks).  While writing this I have referred to John
Cooksey, "Brickyards of the Black Country: a forgotten industry" (Cradley,
Halesowen 2003).  However this merely names "Rufford & Co." and identifies
them with "Hungary Hill Colliery" (now partly occupied by a street called
Hungary Hill).  I may conceivably have some notes that would throw more
light on this, but I do not know where they are.  N. Perry, "A History of
Stourbridge" (Phillimore 2001) does not name any member of the family except
Francis (who supplied bricks in 1806) and Francis junior, but states that
their brickworks included the Grange estate (which extends from Rufford Road
to Pedmore Road (and is now occupied by a Council estate, built from 1930s).
I think the New Farm Road estate (another council estate - partly more
recent - 1950s?) may also have been on their former land.

Peter King
49, Stourbridge Road,
Hagley,
Stourbridge
West Midlands
DY9 0QS
01562-720368
[log in to unmask]


-----Original Message-----
From: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
Poyner, David
Sent: 03 September 2008 09:39
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Ruffords brick makers


I have a battered Rufford brick. It's fired to a pink colour on the outside;
the inside is lighter and nearer yellow. It's a very coarse fabric, with
large inclusions. It was presumably a firebrick of some sort. The stamp is
simply Rufford. From the location where I found it, it could have either
been 1800-1824 or post 1878; I think the later date is most likely.

David

-----Original Message-----
From: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Robert Waterhouse
Sent: 02 September 2008 17:33
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Ruffords brick makers

Dear David,

The stamp could be B. RUFFORD, though there is no obvious gap between the B
and the R.  That sounds like the maker though - thankyou!

The fabric is mustard yellow with many rusty speckles.  Some of the bricks
are darker, ochrous yellow/brown, but all have the rusty speckles.  We have
been finding these bricks at Morwellham for years, but had no idea where
they were from, as they had no stamps, and had commonly been broken up and
used for hardcore.

The date range for the limekiln is c.1787-1857, though as it's a secondary
lining (albeit not heavily heat damaged), one assumes it would be towards
the latter end of that period.

Robert



-----Original Message-----
From: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Poyner, David
Sent: 02 September 2008 16:37
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Bruffords brick makers

Bruffords or Ruffords? Ruffords were fairly well-known brick makers;
firebricks and apparently glazed bricks. See
http://www.tom.cockeram.clara.net/Industry/188700rc.htm

I think they started in the early 19th C and finished some time in the early
20th C.

David

-----Original Message-----
From: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Robert Waterhouse
Sent: 02 September 2008 16:18
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Bruffords brick makers

Dear List,

Slightly off-subject I know, but I don't suppose anyone knows about a brick
manufacturer called Bruffords of Stourbridge?  We've just found a brick made
by them at Morwellham Quay, used to line a limekiln, before the mid-1850s.

Robert Waterhouse
Morwellham Quay Archaeologist
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.169 / Virus Database: 270.6.14/1647 - Release Date: 02/09/2008
06:02