1810 Remarks on the Utility of these bricks
Letter front Mr. Richard Billing, to Mr. Stephens.
Sir,
Agreably to your request, I have taken into consideration the utility of your closure bricks, and beg leave to say that my opinion coincides with yours, as to their advantage, in new chimnies, which are intended to be built against old walls. In constructing a new chimney it is generally considered absolutely necessary, that the same should be worked up close to the old wall, but completely unconnected, in order that it might settle from the old; in this case, it is very desirable to make the back of the chimney as thin as possible, that it may project as little as convenient; and in building piers, particularly small ones, either for gate-ways or fronts of houses, where there are many bricks, and in the present mode, which is so frequently adopted, of two inch recesses at the exterior of the windows, your closures would be much preferable even in appearance to a brick which has been cut with a trowel, with the surface of course defaced.
Closure bricks might be adopted as a cheap and useful drain by a common brick flat, with two closures laid on the same two inches asunder, or four inches, and reversed.
Your closures would be useful in all kinds of ornamental brickwork.
Two inches is a very desirable brick, but most times avoided in consequence of the waste in cutting common bricks, and difficulty in producing a smooth face, which would be completely obviated by the introduction of closure bricks.
I remain, Sir,
Your obedient humble Servant.
Richard Billing.
Reading, December 3, 1810.
[From John Stephens, "A New Method of making Bricks, so as to form cheaper and firmer buildings, and useful underground Drains," in A Journal of Natural Philosophy, Chemistry and the Arts, Illustrated with Engravings by William Nicholson, London: W. Stratford, Vol XXXII, August, 1812, p. 252-55]
1825-1835 "From the far end of Kings Road one returns along London Road, seeing the development backward. On the N side good houses of c.1830-40 round Eldon Square. Yet further W a white terrace with giant pillasters of only six bays, and then best of all Nos. 45-65. This is, according to Mr Sherburn, of 1825-35, by Richard Billing. The doorways again have set-in Doric columns. Terraces also opposite, one of twelve bays with pediments over the end bays." [Nikolaus Pevsner, Berkshire, Yale University Press, 1966, p. 204, in the section about Reading]
1852 Bankrupts: Billing Richard, sen. and Richard Billing, jun. of Reading in the county of Berks, brick-makes and co-partners; surr. Jan. 23 at half past 12, Feb. 26 at 12. Court, Basinghall Street. [Henry John Hodgson, Colley Harman Scotland, and Francis Russel, The Law Journal Reports, London: E. B. Ince, 1852. Bankrupt and Dividend List, Gazette, Friday, January 9]