Barwick Characters - Brickie Dick Back to the Main Historical Society page
Back to the Barwicker Contents page

Barwick Characters - Brickie Dick


from The Barwicker No.12 December 1988



Brickie Dick is a legendary Barwick character about whom various anecdotes are told. Unfortunately, unlike Sally Grattan, the washerwoman, and Stivvy Kelly, we have no photograph of Brickie Dick. We have in fact had a little trouble discovering his proper name, but Fred Thorp informs us that he was called Richard Walker. He used to work for the Thorps from time to time after he had given up his bricklaying activities. His origins are obscure. He does not appear in the baptisms or burials registers of the parish church, nor the 1881 census of the village.

We know from various sources that Brickie Dick lived in fowler Fold, the row of cottages, now demolished, which stood behind the Black Swan. (See plan opposite). Jack Reed included the following information on Brickie Dick in one of his letters to the editor.

"Brickie Dick lived in either the top house or the second to the top (in Towler Fold) at the end of the row. It was the only one inhabited at the end of the First World 'War. I knew him (I would be 6 or 7) and liked him. He was a tall gaunt man, scruffy but clean. Looking back I would say he was lonely and he was always ready to stop and talk for a few moments to anyone who would talk to him. I liked him."

"Here is an anecdote told to me by my father after Brickie had been found dead. His house was searched and a few gold sovereigns found. (I never knew of Brickie going to work.) The story is as follows. The names are all fictitious as I can't remember any of them."

"Mr Justice Hardhat liked horse racing so he always managed to be at the Leeds Assizes when racing was at York. Dickie went up to Kiddal Hall and stopped his Lordship's carriage and pair. (Brickie and his Honour knew each other from different sides of the dock.)

"Your Honour, can you please give me a winner at York today?"

"Yes, Brickie. Put every penny you have on Bright Eyes in the 2.30. It will win. Tomorrow, put all your stake and your winnings on Short Ears in the 4 o'clock. Next day, put it all, every penny on Just Joe in the 3 o'clock. If you do as I tell you, there will be no need tor you to work ever again."

"Brickie did as instructed and never went to work again."

The fact that Brickie Dick was well acquainted with the long arm of the law is confirmed by Tony Shinn who worked at one time for Harry Pullan. Brickie Dick had also worked for Harry Pullan who told Tony Shinn that although Brickie Dick was a first class bricklayer, he was also a first class beer drinker. It seems that every Monday morning without fail, Harry Pullan was obliged to take his pony and trap to the police station to bail Brickie Dick out so that he could start work. This tale says much for Brickie Dick's skills at bricklaying but less for his skill at holding his ale.

Other residents of the cottages were Sally Grattan and Stivvy Kelly, already mentioned. We have no photographs of these dwellings but it seems clear that their accommodation was somewhat basic - not the most desirable residences in Barwick!

Ernest Hague remembers a story about Brickie Dick which was told to him by Billy Robshaw who, as a schoolboy, used to go with Ted Hartley to light Brickie's fire for him just before he returned from work. When Brickie came in he would set his meal out on the table, then say to the boys, "Be quiet now lads, watch. they'll be coming soon". The bays waited with a mixture of fear and excitement for they knew not what! After a few moments, mice would begin to appear from the corners of the room. They would climb up the table legs and take their places on the table, ready to partake of the meal!

As a bricklayer, Brickie Dick was highly rated by his boss Harry Pullan. However, he was never able to read plans and so needed close supervision to make sure he left spaces for the windows, etc. Another amusing story survives to the effect that on one occasion when Brickie Dick had been left to his own devices for too long, he became so carried away with his work that he bricked himself in, having failed to leave a space for the door! Despite his limitations. Brickie Dick worked on many houses still standing in Barwick today, including the six terraced cottages at the top of the hill in The Boyle. (25-35 The Boyle).



We would like to thank Ernest Hague, Tony Shinn and Fred Thorp for their help with this article, in addition to the information provided by Jack Reed.

JANE DEACON


Back to the top
Back to the Main Historical Society page
Back to the Barwicker Contents page