QUALITY , HONESTY AND INTEGRITY
An insight into the traditional bricklayer
My name is Dean – otherwise known as the traditional bricklayer ; a proud bricklayer with a traditional mindset that strives every day for quality , honesty and integrity .
Your passion encourages you to read this article which invites your attention here in the company of other like-minded men .
In years past revolutions and recessions have changed the process of many occupations , and digital and mechanical enhancements have hit the world industries reducing manual skill levels and worth .
With a strong wave many have tried to conquer the trade of bricklaying only to be denied by the fight of the man grasping the thick steel blade of Brades Sheffield steel 9 ’’ trowel .
The bricklaying art that runs in my ancestry can be traced back to 1731 . My family line includes 15 bricklayers , who led gangs of men around the sound of the bow bells of London building a range of buildings from guest houses to schools to homes leading by actions and quality .
Canning Town born and bred all remained routed and knowledge was passed down to myself and as a youngster , I was taught to understand my heritage and history . The importance of understanding the material and the use and how bricklayers worked , the tools used , etc
To perform in the world of heritage and bricklaying restoration we must understand the terminologies to perform , the whys , the whens to structurally and aesthetically . The use of lime with a London stock , the use of slate as damp . To understand the only trade of heritage that still demands manual skill Knowledge and expertise .
With the land acting as the world ’ s most extraordinary art gallery displaying buildings of art , intimidating greatness boasting amazing brickwork detail , aesthetically one must have an understanding of brickwork history .
I apply my skill daily from grade 1 listings to grade 2 or I could be recreating a Victorian detail on a completely new build or garden wall feature for an enthusiastic client . I seem to be building more stacks of late boasting a range of details from corballing dragon scales to twisted stacks or turning Roman arches .
My learning didn ’ t stop at the trade of bricklaying but also one of architecture .
I was encouraged by my grandfathers that leadership was an action , not a role and to lead I had to master knowledge not only in such bonds as Flemish and English but to master the solutions in broken bond measurements the correct way , the emphasis of structure and brickwork details and era
The overpowering towers , turrets chimney stacks of the Georgian era gently passed over to the Victorian era losing some of the detail but were replaced modestly with higher callings , and bigger windows as the British working man embraced the form of home .
I feel the trade is becoming of less worth and semi-skilled with apprenticeships going from 4 years to 2 years as the generation of new builds takes over producing homes of no detail , one of a standard box and one is considered special if they have a prefabricated arch installed
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