UK brick archaeology

How to Match 1930s London Stock Bricks for an Extension

Matching brickwork on a 1930s property is often more difficult than finding a brick with the same general colour. London and the surrounding areas contain many buildings constructed, repaired and extended with bricks that can look similar at first glance. Weathering, soot, staining and later cleaning add another layer of difficulty.

Start with the existing wall

Photograph several areas rather than one close-up. Include the main elevation, a sheltered section, a corner and an individual brick face. Look for changes caused by exposure and previous repairs. If an extension was added later, bricks from the original house and extension can provide useful comparison evidence.

Measure before searching

Measure an accessible brick itself rather than the mortar joint. Record length, height and width in millimetres. Older bricks can vary more than modern factory products, so measure several units if practical. Average measurements can be more informative than a single chipped or unusually worn brick.

Look at the surface

London stock-style brickwork is often associated with warm yellow, buff or brown tones, but individual products and weathering vary. Examine the sanded or textured face, speckling, firing marks, edge profile and colour variation. Do not reject a potential match solely because the catalogue image looks cleaner or brighter than an old wall.

Check the frog and marks

If a loose or accessible brick exposes its frog, photograph the complete feature and any lettering. The frog can provide stronger evidence than colour. Record whether it is deep or shallow, broad or narrow, and whether the mark appears embossed or recessed.

Consider the building context

The architectural context can narrow research: housing type, approximate construction date, location, extension history and brick bond can all provide clues. Context should support, not replace, physical evidence. A brick reused from another building can appear in a wall many decades after its original manufacture.

When a new brick is the best option

For a modern extension, the closest new facing brick may be more practical than trying to source enough genuinely reclaimed units. For visible repairs to an older elevation, reclaimed bricks can sometimes provide a closer weathered appearance. In either case, compare a physical sample in the actual light and against the existing mortar.

Do not order a pallet from a photograph alone. Obtain a sample and compare colour, texture, dimensions and face character before committing to a large quantity.

Start a photo identification or browse the UK brick catalogue for further research.