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3 unusual facts about London stock brick


London stock brick

Air pollution in London during the 19th century and early 20th century commonly caused the bricks to receive a sooty deposition over time, turning the bricks greyish or even black, but the removal of contaminants from the air following the passing of the Clean Air Act in 1956, has enabled older buildings to be cleaned and new buildings to retain their natural colour.

In Stock, Essex there is a common belief that "Stock Bricks" originated there; bricks were certainly made there, but the name is a coincidence, stock being a common English word with many meanings and also a common place-name element.

Southfleet railway station

Architecturally, the station's buildings were similar in style to those at Gravesend West, solidly-built of yellow London stock in a slightly Gothic style.



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