Types of walls found on houses

Types of Brick Bonds

Bonds are the horizontal patterns in which bricks are laid. There are five main types of bonds used in old buildings.

Old English Bond The oldest pattern. Popular during the Tudor period.

Flemish Bond This is one of the most attractive bonds and was particularly popular in Georgian buildings.

Stretcher Bond Stretcher bond is the commonest bond used today and the least interesting to look at.

Old English Bond

This is the oldest brick pattern. Bricks were laid in alternate layers of headers and stretchers. A 'stretcher' is a brick laid so that its side is showing, a 'header' is a brick laid so that only its end is showing.

Old English bond

These bricks do not look old. They have not been weathered much.
It is possible that this wall was rebuilt.

Flemish Bond

To escape religious persecution, the Flemings settled in England during late Tudor times. They introduced Flemish bond: headers and stretchers laid alternatively in each layer of bricks.

Flemish bond

Handmade bricks
Handmade bricks have creases in them

Old bricks are uneven in terms of shape and thickness. Proir to the 1830s, all bricks were made by hand.

Flemish bond

Flemish bond

Machine made bricks
Machine made bricks are smooth and all the same size

Flemish bond

Diapering

When bricks of different colours are used to make a regular pattern, it is called diapering.

Flemish bond

Flemish bond

Flemish bond

Diamond Diapering

Stetcher Bond (Modern)

Cavity walls

Stretcher bond

The bricks below look as though they have been handmade.
Can you see the 'creases'? They look like smiles.

Stretcher bond

Stretcher bond

The purple colouring is caused by the brick being placed
near the furnace in the kiln.

Stretcher bond

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