The Landing Hotel Biggin Hill

   

Situated on the side of a runway, this boutique hotel has been built with the highest level of accoustic isolation.  Architects Scottbrownrigg specified Ketley Staffordshire blue Class A bricks to both look good and provide good sound insulation.  Detail was added around the windows with inset brick panels.  Full details

Stacked brickwork extension

Built in the 1990's, Breach House in Blockley London lies alongside the former Croydon Canal, which was a big driver for the development of this area.  Architects Studio Manifest wanted to give context to the new extension whilst also giving it a contemporary feel.  Full details

Bridgnorth Station

Planning permission and listed building consent were granted for a new Station building  of demonstrable high quality that would minimise its impact on the sensitive heritage landscape.  The new building is in the style of a typical GWR building from 1910 with considerable attention paid to external and internal details, materials and finishes.  Ketley Staffordshire blue multi bricks with a natural blue tone and flecks of red annd brown on the face have an antique brindle appearance and were carefully selected to achieve the level of colour variation that would have been seen in this type of brick at the turn of the century.  Full details

Residential Extension in Crouch End

This striking extension of an end of terrace Edwardian home uses Staffordshire blue bricks to contrast with the existing yellow stock brick.  The contemporary design, by Mulroy architects, uses both projecting and hit and miss brickwork to create shadows and texture in the building and the use of matching  Staffordshire blue bricks on the terrace, laid on edge, connects the building with the outside space.  Textured brickwork exposes the bricks to particularly severe freeze thaw conditions and Ketley are the only manufacturer to have tested their bricks for these types of textured brickwork.  Mulroy Architects specified Ketley Class A bricks confident they had the right characteristics  for this type of exposed brickwork.  They also liked the aesthetics of the traditional staffordshire blue which can take on different tones according to the light.  Full details

Napier University, Sighthill Campus, Edinburgh

This new faculty building of Health, Life and Social Science  was built by RMJM Achitects .  The base of the building is in brick and the upper part is clad in aluminium  cladding.   Johnathon Pringle of RMJM Architects explains “A Staffordshire Blue Brindle brick was chosen on the basis of its colour and strength but it was a relatively expensive option.  Alternatives were considered but while they could be sourced more cheaply, they could not offer the same high standards of performance.   Ketley Brick are renowned for their Staffordshire blue product, and they were able to meet the strict criteria of both cost and quality”.

Wilbury Hill Cemetry

   

Designed by mae LLP architects and contructed in Staffordshire blue brick, larch and zinc, this building has been described as “a model 21st-century cemetery”.  Ketley’s Staffordshire blue brick laid in a stack bond with a colour-matched mortar, is the major material used.  The client, North Hertfordshire District Council, and the design team felt this type of brick would be more suitable than the more locally prevalent soft red brick as it was important to present a high-quality finish. The density of the hard-fired Class A bricks also minimises water ingress from driving rain on the exposed and windy site.    Full details from the Brick Association

Isle of Dogs Pumping Station

  

When John Outram was given the opportunity to design a building to accommodate pumping equipment and computer plant to return surface water to the river Thames he created not a basic industrial fabrication but a truly classical and enduring design subsequently christened the “Temple of Storms”.  Public access is denied, the building is visited only once a week for maintenance and because of the flood protection it provides to areas of London ,security against vandalism is of vital importance.  Ketley Staffs Blue 'Class A' bricks are used for the transformer building and the lower, most vulnerable part of the main walls of the station.  The perimeter wall is constructed from Ketley Brown Brindle 'Class A' bricks.

The Judges Institute, Cambridge University

This impressive neo classical building designed by John Outram on the site of the former Addenbrookes Hospital is part of the Judge Institute of Management Studies at Cambridge University.  Ketley's Staffordshire Blue 'Class A' Bricks and purpose made specials provide a strong base for the buff brickwork above and also give a high quality finish to this iconic Castle Building.

The London Docklands and the Dockland Light Railway

This project was organised by The Docklands Development Corporation between 1981 and 1994.  Its purpose was to regenerate the area as it became evermore derelict following the introduction of  containerisation.  Ketley supplied hundreds of thousands of Blue 'Class A' bricks to renew the river walls in the various docks.  These images are of London Yard, Isle of Dogs.

Malthouse at Warrington

Special sized bricks in Staffordshire Blue were made to match existing brickwork to restore this old Malthouse in Warrington. New windows were introduced as part of the conversion of this historic building from commercial to residential use.

A North London Garden

   

Ketley Staffs Blue bricks are used here in contemporary garden design.  They are laid on edge as pavers and stepping stones in the grass and also  form a curved retaining wall starting at ground level and gradually rising. The garden designer, Jilayne Rickards comments, "I love the Staffordshire Blues - they lend themselves as a fabulous backdrop to really great planting. "

Place of Manufacture: Brierley Hill, UK
Environmental Management: 14001     Download Certificate
Quality Management : 9001                     Download Certificate 

Download the Ketley Quality and Environmental Policy

Life Cycle:  BRE Global Certification in accordance with  EN 15804:2012  Download Certificate
Energy:  Fired in gas kilns to 1130^o C
Raw materials:   Etruria Marl Clay from our own quarry in Cannock, 12 miles from our factory, and sand
Lifespan:  Bricks are long life building product and Ketley's bricks are the toughest and most durable bricks you can buy.  
Recyclability:   Mortar can be cleaned off so the bricks can be reused.  They can also be crushed and used as aggregate and/or as an inert bulk fill
Packaging:  We keep packaging to a minimum using wooden pallets and we do not shrink wrap our brick packs.

Find out more about Ketley's approach to sustainability

Click for the Brick Development Association infographic on Sustainability of Brick 

See below the latest video about Sustainability of Brick from the Brick Development Association

Staffordshire Blue Brick Specification Sheet

Standard: BS EN 771-1: 2011

Ketley Staffordshire Blue Bricks are produced at our works located in the heart of the Black Country.  Ketley Bricks have been made from our own Etruria Marl since Victorian times.  They are recognised as a Class A facing brick of high quality with a strong aesthetic appeal. 
Download Specification sheet as pdf.

Download Specification clause as a word doc

Download water absorption test report

Download compressive strength report

Download textured brickwork freeze thaw test report

Type:	Facing Brick Class A Solid	Facing Brick Class A Perforated
Colour:	Staffordshire Blue	Staffordshire Blue
Structure:	Solid	Perforated ≤ 25% void with a mean of 19%
Texture:	Smooth	Smooth
Manufacture:	Extruded, wirecut	Extruded, wirecut
Dimensions:	215 x 102.5 x 65mm	215 x 102.5 x 65mm
	215 x 102.5 x 73mm	215 x 102.5 x 73mm
	Complies with dimensions and tolerances of BS EN 771-1: 2011	Complies with dimensions and tolerances of BS EN 771-1: 2011
Weight 65mm:	3.3kgs per brick 3.3 Tonnes per 1,000	2.45kgs per brick 2.45 Tonnes per 1,000
Weight 73mm:	3.8kgs per brick 3.8 Tonnes per 1,000	3kgs per brick 3 Tonnes per 1,000
No. per m2 65 mm (10mm joints):	60	60
No. per m2 73 mm (10mm joints):	53	53
Pack Size:	400	400
Packing:	Banded for fork lift off-loading.	Banded for fork lift off-loading.
Weight per pack 65mm:	1320kg	980kg
Weight per pack 73mm:	1435kg	1200kg
Special Bricks	A complete range of Special Shapes to BS 4729 2005 is available.  We also undertake the manufacture of 'non-standard' specials to customers' specification as required.	A complete range of Special Shapes to BS 4729 2005 is available.  We also undertake the manufacture of 'non-standard' specials to customers' specification as required.  (Note: some specials are only manufactured solid).
Compressive strength:	Greater than or equal to 125N/mm²	Greater than or equal to 125N/mm²
Category:	II	II
Masonry Unit Group:	HD	HD
Engineering Grade:	A	A
Water absorption:	≤4.5%	≤4.5%
Initial Rate of Water absorption:	Less than or equal to 1.5Kg/m²/min	Less than or equal to 1.5Kg/m²/min
Thermal Conductivity:	On Application	On Application
Bond Strength:	0.15N/mm² (For general purpose and lightweight mortar)	0.15N/mm² (For general purpose and lightweight mortar)
Net Dry Density:	2200 Kg/m³(Typically)	2200 Kg/m³(Typically)
Density Tolerance:	D1	D1
Soluble salt content:	S2	S2
Durability:	F2	F2
Fire Reaction:	A1	A1
Dimensional Tolerance Mean:	T2	T2
Dimensional Tolerance Range:	R1	R1

Ketley Just Engineerings are sometimes available for applications not requiring a facing brick.

Download Specification and Quality Standard for Ketley Just Engineerings

Special Shaped Bricks 

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Because Special Shaped bricks are generally used in situations of severe exposure such as copings and cills, powerful resistance to water penetration and high durability has always been essential.

Ketley Bricks are generally solid and have stood the ultimate test, the test of time.  In the early part of the 20th Century their blue colour was regarded as the stamp of durability, nowadays their performance under crushing tests, water absorption and abrasion tests is evidence of this. 

The use of Ketley Specials to add a high quality finish to brickwork ensures extra durability and protection to vulnerable areas and will save time on-site by overcoming extensive hand cutting.

Download Special Shaped Brick Brochure 

or browse our range of specials online

Consistent natural colours

Our unique plant produces traditional natural Staffordshire clay colours for both the Paver and Brick ranges in Blue, Brown Brindle and Red.  Because our bricks, pavers and specials are fired together, our colours are consistent through the range.

Ketley Brick manufactures a wide range of special shaped bricks for a multitude of applications. 

Ketley will also manufacture specials from drawings supplied, allowing you to explore imaginative design options and decorative detail, confident that Ketley will be able to acurately match  requirements.

Bricks Sample Request Form

Please complete this form to let us know which samples you would like.  Due to the high courier cost in sending them out, we cannot supply them free of charge in all cases. Enter not this field: I'd like to receive the following brochures Ketley Brick Brochure: Ketley Special Shape Bricks: Ketley Clay Pavers and Fittings: Sign up for our newsletter. If you do not wish to receive our quarterly newsletter, please uncheck this box: Choose Samples. Unsure which brick size you want? 65mm are the standard UK size for buildings today, and 73mm bricks are used mainly for renovations Class A Facing Brick Sample 1: Please select as required Staffordshire Blue Solid 65mm Staffordshire Red Solid 65mm Staffordshire Brown Brindle Solid 65mm Staffordshire Blue Perforated 65mm Staffordshire Red Perforated 65mm Staffordshire Brown Brindle Perforated 65mm Staffordshire Blue Solid 73mm Staffordshire Red Solid 73mm Staffordshire Brown Brindle Solid 73mm Staffordshire Blue Perforated 73mm Staffordshire Brown Brindle Perforated 73mm Staffordshire Red Perforated 73mm Class A Facing Brick Sample 2: Please select as required Staffordshire Blue Solid 65mm Staffordshire Red Solid 65mm Staffordshire Brown Brindle Solid 65mm Staffordshire Blue Perforated 65mm Staffordshire Red Perforated 65mm Staffordshire Brown Brindle Perforated 65mm Staffordshire Blue Solid 73mm Staffordshire Red Solid 73mm Staffordshire Brown Brindle Solid 73mm Staffordshire Blue Perforated 73mm Staffordshire Brown Brindle Perforated 73mm Staffordshire Red Perforated 73mm Class A Facing Brick Sample 3: Please select as required Staffordshire Blue Solid 65mm Staffordshire Red Solid 65mm Staffordshire Brown Brindle Solid 65mm Staffordshire Blue Perforated 65mm Staffordshire Red Perforated 65mm Staffordshire Brown Brindle Perforated 65mm Staffordshire Blue Solid 73mm Staffordshire Red Solid 73mm Staffordshire Brown Brindle Solid 73mm Staffordshire Blue Perforated 73mm Staffordshire Brown Brindle Perforated 73mm Staffordshire Red Perforated 73mm Please complete details of your project in the space below, together with quantities and timescales if possible. We may need to contact you prior to sending samples out to confirm your requirements, so please provide your day time contact details with your sample request. Please also note there is a substantial courier cost to send out samples and we cannot supply samples free of charge in all cases. Type of Work:* Please select Brickwork Civils Brickwork Residential Restoration Other (please specify below) Customer type:* please select architect designer housebuilder planner factor merchant surveyor selfbuilder homeowner other More project information: Approx Square Metre of product required:* Please select 0-20 20-100 100-1000 over 1000 Name:* Address:* Postcode:* Email:* Tel:* How did you hear about Ketley Brick?:* Please select Internet Search Exhibition or Trade Show Advertisement Word of Mouth Other (please specify below) Tell us more about how you heard about us: Please click to confirm:*   *Indicates a field you must enter.