Recently, we had the challenge of sourcing handmade bricks for a project in a Conservation Area in West Lancashire. The original bricks told a story; they were likely made by itinerant brickmakers around 1860 and would have been produced in a brick clamp; a traditional method where bricks were fired in a temporary kiln built on-site. Interestingly, just across the road from the building is an old fishing pond, which was likely the original clay pit that provided the raw material for these bricks.

I am often asked about ways in which people can improve the energy efficiency of their homes . In my other posts, I discuss the self build low-energy house, but what can a homeowner do to improve their existing dwelling.

Image: Saxton Gardens by Union North for Urban Splash The 'eco-house' has been seen by some as the marginal preserve of environmentalists and enthusiasts. Could it be that with recent changes in planning policy and the seemingly endless rises in e...