Abstract

Two late medieval brick built undercrofts in Wisbech are described. It is argued that brick in early buildings had various meanings which was evolving, and was determined by context. Although the two brick-built undercrofts recorded at Wisbech may have been intended for the supply and sale of goods to consumers, the choice of brick for their construction was probably determined more by the need for cheap masonry than any prestigious association. The same is likely to be true for its use in other early medieval undercrofts in eastern England.