In this post, Atlas Obscura contributor Karen Chernick focuses on the humble practice of British brick collecting.

Evidently, devoted aficionados are drawn by the sometimes ornate indentations embossed on the top side of each brick. not to mention the stories they tell about Britain’s Industrial past. According to Ms. Chernick, collections range from the highly impressive Henry and Mary Holt collection comprising some 7000 individual bricks to the more modest collection of Jason Harris numbering a mere 400.

Regardless of the size of the collection, brick preferences vary and are very personal. Ms, Chernick notes that “there are no set rules that cement what makes one brick more precious than another.” In short, there seems to be almost as many reasons to collect bricks as there are collectors.

Needless to say, it’s a unique and fascinating story that is well worth checking out.

Tom Gilson

Tom is originally from Brooklyn N.Y but has spent his entire professional career in South Carolina, most recently as Head of Reference Services at the College of Charleston. As part of the Against the Grain and Charleston Conference team, he serves as the associate editor of the print ATG as well as the co-editor of the webpage. Tom’s conference duties include coordinating the Penthouse Suite interviews as well as the conference poster sessions.

He received his MLS from the University of Buffalo, SUNY and a second master’s in public administration from the College of Charleston and the Univ. of South Carolina. His wife Carol and he live in downtown Charleston and she is an artist and a tour guide offering historic walking tours of the city.