Does anyone have any Ferens & Love bricks? ... readers respond

You will remember that in 1857 Robinson Ferens married Sarah Love, who was endowed with collieries. Robinson took on the management of the collieries – Willington, Oakenshaw, Sunnybrow and Shincliffe – and the company, which lasted until at least 1953, was known as Ferens & Love.

Does anyone, we asked, have a F&L brick. And, of course, lots of people did.

Among them was Lynne Ridley of Cornsay Colliery, who has one which holds her garden gate open.

By happy coincidence, there is a magnificent picture of Cornsay Colliery in today’s From the Archive section. Cornsay Colliery, near Esh Winning to the west of Durham City, was probably F&L’s principal colliery. The company sank it in 1863 and maintained it through its pre-First World War heyday, when it employed 700 men, until it closed it in the 1950s.

An 1894 guide to County Durham says: “A great feature of this pit is that it yields a splendid fireclay, which supplies the rather extensive brick, tile, and sanitary pipe works in connection with the colliery. It is contemplated by the owners to lay down plant for the manufacture of glazed, sanitary, and other ware, for which the clay is so well adapted.”

Whereas Lynne’s brick has “Ferens & Love” stamped in full on it, other bricks only had “F&L” pressed into them. Arthur Hall of Esh Winning, has kindly sent us a photo of one of these. He was born in Cornsay Colliery although his F&L brick comes from a building in Tow Law.

The 1894 guide talks of Cornsay Colliery producing glazed ware, and we guess that is how the two troughs fit in which are in the possession of Robert Elliott, who lives near Gainford. “They are glazed, and very heavy,” he says. “Each measures approximately 2ft by 1½ft and nine inches deep. There is also a drain cover, which, although it appears unmarked, is possibly by Ferens and Love as it is of the same material and is also of considerable weight.”

Magnificent! Are there any more interesting Ferens & Love artefacts anywhere?

CHURCH LAD: Durham mayor Cecil Ferens with Princess Elizabeth during a visit to the city in 1947

CECIL FERENS was on the board of his family colliery company, although he is better known as the solicitor who was mayor of Durham City in 1947-48. He was also a generous benefactor.

“One of his main interests which you haven't mentioned was the Church Lads Brigade (CLB),” says Alan Stewart, of Crook. “He formed the CLB company at St Aidan’s, Framwellgate Moor, the church he attended for many years, in 1924 and the company is still going strong today.

“After commanding the Central Durham Battalion of the CLB, he became the Commanding Officer and Colonel of the Durham Diocesan Regiment of the CLB in 1942, remaining so until his death in 1975. He also played a major role in the CLB nationally. In 1963 he was given the honour of commanding the parade at the review of the CLB by the Queen in Windsor Great Park. He received a Gold Award of Merit for his services to the Brigade.

“Among his biggest loves was the annual North-Eastern CLB camp, which he commanded every year from 1944 until 1974.

“In 1978, the CLB amalgamated with the Church Girls Brigade to form the Church Lads and Church Girls Brigade which exists today. I am sure that Cecil Ferens would be proud that his beloved Durham regiment was still functioning, and enjoying some growth at the moment, and that the St Aidan's company and the North-Eastern camp were going strong. This year’s camp will be the 114th.

“My memories of him are from when I was a young member of Crook company. I remember lining up in the old United bus garage in Durham for the annual regimental parade to the cathedral and Colonel Ferens climbed onto a platform to order that no one should smoke outside the cathedral, and that when we were inside we should sit quietly and if the organ was playing listen to it.

“His brother Vernon was a CLB officer at St Margaret’s, Durham.”

Mr Stewart is himself a brigade officer and is currently running the newly reformed company at Tow Law.