BRICKS! What's in a name?

I have just placed this picture of Honeybourne onto my website of the Airman's Dining Room for 1300 men, designed in temporary brick but built in clay blocks


www.atlantikwall.co.uk/atlantikwall/engl...te01/html/page01.htm

PNK wrote:

Do they use that type of block to build in Spain?

Yes, France too I have seen a very similar "terracotta" block.

PNK wrote:

Actually looking at Richard's picture they seem to waether very well. I wonder how they compare to brick strength wise?

Poorly I would say, depending on which direction stresses are applied.

In Expansion Period mess roof construction I had assumed that they were filled with concrete/cement?

Splendid Denis and Richard. That's all the proof I need especially since the 'proof' fits my image of what a Terra Cotta Block would look like.

From your pics there is no evidence that the surface was originally cement rendered. If that was the norm for buildings constructed in TCB (Terra Cotta Block) then remaining structures should be easy to identify.

Your mission now, should you choose to accept it, is to track down other examples. I suspect that TCBs were used because it would be quicker to build a temporary structure and because they were available from very local sources so they might only be seen on certain airfields.

Denis's image - The building has a concrete frame, no piers. Richard's image has the piers to support the roof trusses.

Peter,
A shot of the interior of that MoWP Hut for you.

Thanks Denis. The frames even have the 'knees' beloved of wooden ship builders.

The other weekend we found this building at Starveall Farm SLG.

we think its a British Concrete Federation Huts (flat roof) and it was lined with hollow clay blocks?


Does anybody know if we are correct in it being a BCH hut ??

www.atlantikwall.co.uk/atlantikwall/engl...rm01/html/page01.htm still under construction.