58 Garrison Street

[Brotherton brummies]

Hi. My great grandfather lived at 58 Garrison Street according to the 1901 census and his occupation was a bricklayer laborer. (I'm guessing he worked at one of the local brickworks at the end of Garrison Street.) I'm unable to establish the location of no 58 or what type of property it was. From other posts it may well have been a back to back. Does anyone have any ideas please? Thanks.

 

[Morturn]

Hi. My great grandfather lived at 58 Garrison Street according to the 1901 census and his occupation was a bricklayer laborer. (I'm guessing he worked at one of the local brickworks at the end of Garrison Street.) I'm unable to establish the location of no 58 or what type of property it was. From other posts it may well have been a back to back. Does anyone have any ideas please? Thanks.

I don’t know about the location of the property but can tell you that a bricklayer labourer would have worked with a bricklayer in the construction industry.

Sometimes also known as a bricklayer’s mate they were generally paid slightly more than a general labourer and a little less than a skilled tradesman. The very nature of bricklaying was quite physically demanding and the method of working really made it a two-man job.

Depending on the job, the typical duties of a bricklayer labourer would be to clear topsoil and reduce levels, dig out foundations, mix concrete and to load out (place bricks in stacks) the site for the bricklayer to start. The bricklayer labourer would also mix mortar and drop it on the bricklayer’s spot. As the building progressed, he would take brick and mortar up the scaffold with a hod.

The bricklayer labourer would also help with pointing as the works progressed, keep the work area clean and tidy and make the tea. Most important as builders need fresh hot tea every twenty minutes.

Good bricklayer labourer were an invaluable asset and could reasonably be classed as semi-skilled.

 

[brummy-lad]

On the 1950s map (the one which shows house numbers) there are only Nos. 30, 31 & 32 left. Comparing the 1889 map to the 1950s map No. 58 should be as indicated and would have been a back to back house. I believe this area was 'peaky blinders' territory.

 

[Brotherton brummies]

Thanks for the replies. These are really helpful.